The representation of wine in self-portraits throughout art history reflects changing societal attitudes toward alcohol. Beginning in the Late Renaissance, artists such as Hans von Aachen illustrated a joyful and celebratory relationship with wine. In his Self-Portrait with a Glass of Wine (c. 1596), von Aachen presents a radiant figure, enjoying wine with an air of satisfaction and elegance, symbolizing wine as a gift of nature or divine providence, bringing cheer and solace to troubled souls.
This celebratory depiction continues through the 18th century, where artists like Alexis Grimou embrace a similar conviviality in their self-portraits. Grimou’s work, known as The Toper, presents him in a warm light, cheerfully raising a wine glass to the viewer while also hinting at a more nuanced celebration that includes elements reminiscent of the Eucharist.
However, as time progresses into the 19th century, the portrayal of wine begins to shift. Artists like Arnold Böcklin, in his Self-Portrait with Wineglass (1885), adopt a more reserved pose, reflecting a movement away from the jubilant drinking of the past towards a more somber reflection on alcohol and its implications in society. Edvard Munch captures a darker reality in his Self-Portrait with a Bottle of Wine (1906), depicting a sense of loneliness and despair that marks a shift in the narrative surrounding alcohol.
By the onset of the 20th century, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s The Drinker (Self-Portrait) (1914) highlights a further deterioration in the relationship with wine, presenting an individual whose spirit appears broken, reflecting the grim realities of alcohol dependency and societal perceptions of the inebriate.
Ultimately, the evolution of wine in art captures a journey from joy and comfort to a more complex relationship with alcohol that interweaves notions of social status, personal struggle, and societal judgment, framing it within a wider historical context. The changing expressions in these self-portraits illustrate how wine, once a symbol of festivity and abundance, transforms alongside society’s evolving understanding and experience with alcohol consumption.
For further reading on the historical view of wine in artistic representation, visit: