Self-Portrait 1908

Albrecht Anker made this self-portrait with oil on canvas, and the brushstrokes are soft and intimate. I get the feeling this was a very internal process for Anker. Look at the way the paint sits on the canvas, especially around the eyes and beard. It's a mix of thin washes and thicker dabs, creating a texture that almost feels like you could reach out and touch the man. The color palette is quite subdued, mostly earth tones, but there are these little pops of pink and red that bring the face to life. That beard, though – it's like a storm of brushstrokes, each one capturing a different strand of hair, a different shadow. It's both chaotic and controlled, which feels like a good metaphor for self-reflection. It reminds me a little of some of Lucian Freud's portraits, that same intensity and unflinching gaze. Ultimately, I'm left with the impression that Anker wasn't just painting a face; he was exploring the depths of his own being.