Self-Portrait as a Faun. Verso: Head of a Woman Three-Quarters to Left 

Curator: Here we have Henry Fuseli's "Self-Portrait as a Faun," a drawing held in the Tate Collections. Editor: It's immediately striking – the dynamism of the lines, the intense expression... it’s unsettling, yet compelling. Curator: Fuseli's choice to depict himself as a faun is particularly interesting. The faun, a symbol of untamed nature and instinct, reveals his Romantic leanings. Editor: Absolutely, the formal rendering—the hatching, the way light defines form without actually illuminating it—suggests a deeper exploration of the self, a searching for something beyond mere representation. Curator: His interest in mythology and the subconscious, informed by his exploration of the darker aspects of the human psyche, comes through vividly. Editor: It makes you wonder, what inner impulses did Fuseli seek to externalize through this symbolic self-portrait? Curator: Indeed, it’s a testament to the enduring power of self-reflection through classical archetypes. Editor: A captivating look at the artist's inner world, unveiled through a carefully crafted form.