Self Portrait

Maker Henry Sugimoto (American, 1900 - 1990)

Date1982

Mediumoil, canvas

DimensionsH: 19.25 in, W: 15.5 in, Frame: 26.75 x 22.5 x 1.75 in

ClassificationsFine Arts

Credit LineGift of Madeleine Sugimoto and Naomi Tagawa, Japanese American National Museum

Object number92.97.99

DescriptionStretched and framed.;Self portrait of Henry Sugimoto as an older man. A greying Sugimoto, dressed in a dark suit and black tie, gazes directly ahead through black-rimmed glasses. Around his neck he wears a white ribbon with red stripes tied in bow above a five-pointed yellow star with a red circular design in its center. On his left breast are two medals: Kyokujitsu sho (The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays) and Shiju hosho (Medal of Honor with purple ribbon). The Kyokujitsu sho is a hexagonal medal with gold and white rays radiating from a red sun hanging from an paulownia medal attached to a red and white ribbon. The Shiju hosho is a circular medal of a silver wreath surrounding two kanji characters attached to a silver clasp and bar with a dark purple ribbon. On the left, behind him, a grey table with a Bible is visible. A white scroll with two kanji characters hangs (possibly "bright hope") in the upper right corner on a deep blue wall.