Self-Portrait in Black Shirt, Right Arm Outstretched 2000

Avigdor Arikha made this self-portrait with pastels, and what strikes me is how immediate it feels, like a moment captured. Look at the way he's built up the image with these soft, almost hazy strokes of color. The blacks of his shirt aren't solid; they're a mix of blues and grays, giving it a real sense of depth. And that hand, resting against his face – it’s so full of character, so expressive. You can almost feel the texture of the pastel on the page. There's something about the way he uses color here that makes it feel so alive, like he's right there in front of you. Arikha later abandoned abstract art and devoted himself to figurative painting. His emphasis on direct observation aligns him with artists like Lucian Freud, who also prioritized a subjective and intensely personal approach to representing the human form. Ultimately, this portrait reminds us that art isn't just about replicating reality, it’s about capturing a feeling, a moment, a way of seeing.