Self-Portrait with Konstanty Laszczka 1901

Leon Wyczółkowski made this self-portrait with Konstanty Laszczka in oil paint, and it's all about the pleasure of looking and the process of painting. There's a real sense of Wyczółkowski experimenting with mark-making and how the colour is laid down, so it feels fresh, like we're there in the studio with him. I love how the paint is applied in layers, thick in some places, thin in others, creating a rich, textured surface. You can see the brushstrokes, the way he's played with light and shadow to bring out the forms, especially in the faces. And the background! With all the figures and busts it's almost dreamlike. Note the way the dark strokes around the signature almost look like writing on a steamy mirror. The overall feeling is one of intimacy and introspection. It reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker, who also used a restricted palette to create really affecting figurative portraits. It's like Wyczółkowski is in dialogue with the history of painting, but also forging his own path.