Self-Portrait, 1991

Patrick Procktor RA (1936 - 2003)

RA Collection: Art

Paintbrush aloft and facing the viewer, Patrick Procktor draws attention to the tools and materials of his profession. The paintbrush carries the white paint that describes his pristine shirt. The orange colour of the primed canvas shows through as flesh and belt buckle.

Painted with remarkable economy, this self-portrait emphasises the practical aspects of art making. It also highlights the artist’s intellectual process. Procktor’s gaze, directed upwards beyond the picture frame, evokes the moment of thought that precedes each brushstroke.