Self-Portrait 

This is Max Liebermann’s self-portrait, an etching whose date is unknown, rendered in stark lines and a compelling study in black and white. The composition is dominated by the artist’s figure, gazing directly at us, which creates an immediate, personal encounter. The power of this etching resides in the dynamism of its lines. Liebermann employs hatching and cross-hatching, creating depth and shadow. The density of lines around the eyes and beneath the nose sharpens the gaze, giving a palpable sense of Liebermann's character. The face is realistically represented, with a high forehead and sharply defined features, indicative of his position as a man of intellect and a leading figure in German Impressionism. The visible process of creation, the lines themselves, become a subject, reflecting the modernist interest in the artwork's materiality. This self-portrait invites us to consider how line and form can articulate not just a likeness, but the very essence of an individual’s presence and self-awareness.