Zelfportret en face: B-1-1, mei 1942 1942 - 1945

Cor van Teeseling drew this self-portrait with graphite in May 1942. You can see the artist carefully rendering his own features, searching for his likeness on the page. There’s a vulnerability in the soft lines and gentle shading. Imagine him studying his reflection, trying to capture not just the physical appearance, but something deeper, something about his inner self. What does he see? What does he feel? The delicate rendering reminds me of Lucian Freud’s early drawings. You get a similar sense of intense observation and psychological probing. I wonder if van Teeseling knew Freud’s work? Whether he did or didn’t, it's clear that artists are always in conversation with each other across time. They leave clues for the next generation. They encourage us to look closer and to seek something new.