Zelfportret van de schilder Marinus van der Maarel 1911

Editor: This is "Self-portrait of the Painter Marinus van der Maarel," created in 1911. It's a graphite and pencil drawing, and it has a strikingly thoughtful, almost melancholic mood to it. What strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: Ah, Marinus, pouring his essence onto paper...it always moves me. See the subtle shifts in pressure of the pencil? The weight of the world seems etched into those lines, yet there's a tenderness too, don’t you think? It’s as if he's caught between facing the mirror and baring his soul. Is it realism, or something more? Editor: That’s an interesting question... I'd have automatically said realism, given the accuracy in the face and the shadowing... but now that you say that, there's a depth there that pushes beyond just representing likeness. Curator: Precisely! It transcends mere representation. Consider the gaze. Where does it lead *you*? I'm struck by his attempt to capture the truth about the inner workings, rather than only reflecting what he looked like at age 54. The wisps of his hair, and that heavy brow suggest he has been through things and back. But perhaps the essence of van der Maarel is that he never fully lets you in. Editor: I notice how you point out both the technical skill in creating the drawing, but also how that precision lends itself to the feeling. Curator: One feeds the other! What is art if not an orchestration of technique *and* soul? In some ways, this drawing serves as an act of self-discovery. Don't you agree? Editor: Absolutely! Thank you for sharing your insight, I learned a lot! Curator: My pleasure, I hope you discovered how to look deeper into a deceivingly simple work of art.