Self-Portrait

In this self-portrait, Ottilie Wilhelmine Roederstein presents herself directly, her gaze steady and thoughtful. Rendered in drypoint, a technique that creates rich, velvety lines from burrs of metal, the artist captures a sense of immediate presence. Her hair is pulled back, emphasizing the strong planes of her face, and a hint of a high collar or garment suggests a formal yet unadorned presentation. The year this print was made, 1920, places it after the First World War, a period when Roederstein also painted portraits of women widowed by the conflict. Here, she turns her incisive gaze inward, inviting viewers to contemplate the artist herself, reflecting a moment of quiet self-assessment in her later career. The starkness of the drypoint technique lends a gravitas to the image, fitting for a seasoned artist who had long supported herself through her work.