Zelfportret, 9 mei Possibly 1942 - 1949

Cor van Teeseling made this self-portrait on May 9th, with what looks like a graphite pencil on paper. I imagine him on that day, maybe in a quiet room, looking in the mirror, trying to capture his own likeness. He probably had to sit still for quite a while, really focusing on the details of his face: the shape of his nose, the curve of his lips, the way the light catches his eyes. The delicate lines feel so thoughtful, careful. You can almost feel him pressing lightly with the pencil, building up the shadows and highlights to bring his image to life. There’s something very intimate about a self-portrait, right? It's a chance for an artist to really look at themselves, to see what they're feeling. The overall impression is a quiet and introspective mood. The date adds a layer of context, as the artist died only three years later during World War II. This self-portrait, capturing the artist in his youth, gains a poignant quality, reminding us of the impact of historical events on individual lives.