Self-Portrait 1907

Harald Giersing made this self-portrait on an unknown date, with oil on canvas. Look at Giersing laying down each stroke, each brushmark, a puzzle piece in the construction of a face. I see a real embrace of the physical, the stuff of painting. The pale blues and creams form a background that feels like a chilly atmosphere. The face is built up with a mosaic of fleshy tones, pinks and grays, somehow giving the impression of light and shadow. I love the way he models the form with color, little dabs of paint. See the strokes of cream and pink that define the cheek, they are like little flags planted on the canvas. It’s a brave way to paint a portrait, leaving so much exposed, the process visible. For me, Giersing's honesty aligns him with someone like Alice Neel, who also fearlessly laid bare the raw reality of the human form. Like her, Giersing isn't afraid to show the messy, imperfect nature of both painting and existence.