Zelfportret en face: B-1-1 Possibly 1941 - 1948

Cor van Teeseling created this self-portrait in pencil at an unknown date. Van Teeseling was a Jewish artist who died at just 27 years old in Auschwitz. This delicate drawing offers us an intimate glimpse into the life of a young man living in a time of immense upheaval. His soft features and direct gaze evoke a sense of vulnerability, while the precision of the drawing speaks to his skill as an artist. We might consider how the act of self-representation becomes particularly poignant against the backdrop of the Holocaust, as Jewish people were systematically stripped of their identities and ultimately their lives. It is difficult not to look at this image without thinking about what was lost. This self-portrait becomes a testament to a life interrupted, a stark reminder of the individual stories that comprise the larger narrative of the Holocaust.