Self-portrait

This splendid self-portrait is considered one of the most beautiful of Ligabue's entire production. Ligabue portrays himself in a white checkered shirt with the neck slightly open in the half-length pose typical of many self-portraits. However, the true protagonist of the painting is the psychological character of the artist. In the radiance of the setting, a subtle restlessness, a suspicion, a cautious and distrustful suspension is manifested. The physical features are the usual: disheveled hair, the wound on the temple, the mouth dirty with tobacco, the unshaven beard. The location is central on the canvas, in the background you can see a flowery meadow and buildings that, once again, refer to the Swiss world. And it is precisely this repetitive character of the landscape behind him that further strengthens the value of the portrait.