Study of self-portrait 1916

Curator: Looking at this pencil drawing by Ferdinand Hodler, dating from 1916, entitled "Study of self-portrait", I am struck by the weight of expression conveyed in such minimal lines. Editor: Indeed, the texture of the pencil work is quite raw. There is a strong emphasis on the facial structure; a clear departure from idealization and closer to a phenomenological exploration of aging. Curator: Hodler was deeply preoccupied with themes of mortality. The image becomes more resonant when you know this self-portrait was made toward the end of his life when he was battling a serious illness. Editor: Absolutely. Notice the lines around the eyes, the furrows of the forehead rendered in such granular detail that they come to speak of suffering etched into the artist's persona. Curator: What is revealed is a man grappling with his own physical decline. The very act of turning his gaze upon himself can be seen as Hodler seeking to come to terms with the inevitable cycle of life and death. The direct gaze almost becomes confrontational. Editor: A formal analysis shows the eyes lack the intensity and dark lines often used to depict lively spirit. There's a subdued affect, a quiet acceptance rendered through this almost unfinished surface. Curator: One feels this raw simplicity speaks to the universality of the aging process itself—it could be any person looking back on the passing years. A meditation for all of us. Editor: Ultimately, this image, though simple in its medium, exposes a deeply introspective view on time and human existence. A fascinating convergence of form and emotional expression. Curator: I concur. It's a stark reminder of how symbols emerge through lived experience. Editor: And a potent study in lines.