The artwork, “Self Portrait Smoking,” is a striking piece by Ivan Albright, an eminent figure within the Magic Realism movement. The genre of the artwork is a self-portrait, meticulously executed to showcase the artist’s distinct style and attention to detail.
In the painting, the artist is depicted in a formal setting, seated at a table with a lit cigarette in one hand and his other hand resting pensively on his face. The artist’s expression appears contemplative, and his detailed, aged features are a testament to the meticulous realism that characterizes his work. Surrounding him on the table is an ornate ashtray, a vase with a single flower, a drinking glass, and other small items, all rendered with painstaking accuracy. The artwork captures a moment of introspection, emphasizing texture, light, and the intricate details of the scene to convey a sense of reality imbued with an evocative, almost supernatural clarity.
