Self Portrait 1913

This Self-Portrait was made in 1913 by Félix Del Marle, using ink on paper. The drawing’s impact hinges on Del Marle’s choice of medium. Ink, applied with precision, defines the angular planes that characterize the artist's face and attire. Note how the controlled strokes and hatching create depth and shadow, while the stark contrast between light and dark enhances the geometric forms, a hallmark of Cubist-inspired portraiture. Del Marle's technique—the painstaking construction of an image through careful line work—speaks to the labor involved in artistic creation, underscoring the distance between a quick sketch and a resolved composition. In a time of mass production and social upheaval, the work presents the modern artist as a craftsman of the self, deliberately constructing their identity through skilled manipulation of materials. Consider how his choice of such humble materials challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft. Ultimately, this self-portrait invites us to consider the making as crucial to its meaning.