Zelfportret met pet: B-1-1, 2 maart Possibly 1942 - 1943

This is a self-portrait, made with graphite on paper, by Cor van Teeseling on March 2nd. The artist’s light touch and the subtle gradations of grey evoke a quiet and intimate mood. I imagine van Teeseling peering into a mirror, brow furrowed in concentration, carefully rendering the soft curves of his face and the texture of his beret. You can almost feel him gently coaxing the image into being, line by line, as if trying to capture not just his likeness, but also a fleeting glimpse of his inner self. The slight tilt of his head and the soft, diffused light create a sense of vulnerability, drawing you into a silent dialogue with the artist. There’s a timeless quality to the work, an echo of earlier masters like Holbein or Dürer, who also explored the power of portraiture to reveal the human condition. Through his deft handling of line and tone, van Teeseling reminds us that art is not just about technical skill, but also about empathy, observation, and the courage to look deeply within ourselves.