Self-Portrait

From 1913 until the following year, Ryûsei focused on painting self-portraits. He produced a series of portraits not only of himself, but also of the faces of friends and acquaintances, and his passion toward production came to be known by such terms as "Kishida's headhunting." At first, he produced works that were influenced by Post-Impressionism, with which he became acquainted through the magazine "Shirakaba." However, later on, he was inspired by Dürer’s work during the Northern Renaissance and pursued the depiction of realism. This composition, in which he painted his own face in a detailed depiction, reflects Ryûsei's attitude of self-pursuit.