Zelfportret van alleen de ogen 1917

Curator: It's an arresting image, isn't it? We're looking at "Zelfportret van alleen de ogen," or "Self-Portrait of Only the Eyes," an etching by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita from 1917. Editor: Stark. Those eyes just bore right through you. I feel…judged? Almost frightened, even. The heavy lines really amplify the intensity. Curator: Indeed. Mesquita's choice to focus solely on the eyes is significant. In many cultures, the eyes are seen as windows to the soul. By presenting only the eyes, he distills the self-portrait to its most essential and revealing element. Editor: And the expression, wow! There’s such a weight in them, like he’s carrying something immense. Was something happening in his life at the time that might explain this intensity? Curator: It was created during the First World War, a time of immense social and political upheaval. The weight of such historical trauma might find itself channeled into the artist's perception of self. One must remember this context when looking at art, particularly portraiture from this time. Editor: It’s also quite unusual. It breaks with tradition. When we think of self-portraits, we imagine the whole face, perhaps the shoulders, and even hands. By choosing to only present the eyes, he’s deliberately withholding information. Curator: Exactly. The artist may be challenging traditional notions of identity and representation. Is a person just a compilation of features, or is something more profound at play when you look someone directly in the eye? It’s a very bold statement, achieved through simple lines and forms. Editor: Makes you think, doesn’t it? Like you’re meeting a presence more than just viewing a face. Okay, I’m going to need a palate cleanser after this. But seriously, powerfully unsettling piece. Curator: Its power certainly comes from its ability to leave a lasting impact, even after one has turned away. A striking example of expressionism focusing our minds on something eternal and hidden within each one of us.