Mijn portret 1905

James Ensor made this self-portrait with pencil on paper, and it’s all about the process of looking, feeling, and mark-making. The surface is raw, exposed, like a thought bubble made visible. See how the lines around his face are tentative, searching? It reminds me of when I'm trying to nail a likeness, going back and forth, never quite satisfied, but always learning something new in the attempt. There's something so immediate and honest about this drawing. Ensor isn’t trying to impress anyone with slick technique. It's just him, a pencil, and a piece of paper, working it out. I think of other artists who embrace this kind of raw, unfiltered expression, like Philip Guston, who wasn't afraid to show the messy, awkward parts of himself in his work. Ultimately, art is about embracing ambiguity and multiple interpretations.