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Self Portrait

Drawing
1935 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Spare, Austin Osman (artist)
Place of origin
Great Britain (drawn)

Self portrait of the artist, pencil on paper, laid down on card. Signed and dated 'AOS 1935'. Inscribed with title.

Object details

Categories
Drawings
Portraits
Object type
Drawing
TitleSelf Portrait (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil on paper
Pencil
Drawing
Brief description
Self portrait by Austin Osman Spare (1886-1956). Great Britain, 1935.
Physical description
Self portrait of the artist, pencil on paper, laid down on card. Signed and dated 'AOS 1935'. Inscribed with title.
Dimensions
  • Height: 26.7cm
  • Width: 20.5cm
Dimensions taken from departmental notes
Gallery label
Austin Osman Spare 1888-1956
Self-Portrait
Signed and dated 1935

Like his friend Aleister Crowley, Spare was an occult writer immersed in astrology and magic. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy at the age of 16 and was an official artist in the First World War. This powerful self-portrait shows his superb draughtsmanship and extraordinary personality.


Pencil and chalk on tinted paper with wash

Purchased 1997
Museum no. E.32-1997
Object history
Although the artist did not exhibit in 1935, a self portrait of this date was listed as item 171 in his studio show on Walworth Road, London, in 1938.
Subject depicted
Self
Associated object
E.1967-1934
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.32-1997

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Record createdApril 1, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O79290/self-portrait-drawing-spare-austin-osman/
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