Zelfportret en face: B-1-1, 29 januari Possibly 1942

Editor: Here we have Cor van Teeseling's self-portrait, "Zelfportret en face: B-1-1, 29 januari," possibly from 1942. It's a pencil drawing, quite delicate, really. The mood feels very introspective, almost haunting. What do you make of it? Curator: It’s interesting you use the word 'haunting'. To me, this portrait, created during wartime, resonates with a quiet sense of unease. Look closely at the eyes; they're direct but hold a certain sadness, a premonition perhaps. The tentative lines, the smudging…do you see how they contribute to that feeling? Editor: I do. It's not a confident, bold self-portrait. The lines are hesitant. It makes him seem vulnerable. Curator: Precisely. There's a fragility, both in the technique and the emotionality. Consider the cultural context, the constraints and fears prevalent during the Second World War. It becomes more than just a likeness, don't you think? It's almost a whisper from that time. What does that whisper say to you? Editor: I think it whispers of uncertainty, a yearning for normalcy, and maybe a touch of quiet defiance. Curator: Defiance, I love that interpretation. I feel the defiance lies in the act of creation itself. The simple act of recording one's own likeness during a time of immense upheaval is a powerful statement. I am here. I see. I endure. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but it reframes the whole piece. I initially saw fragility, now I see strength, too. Curator: Isn't that the beauty of art? It evolves with us. I walk away pondering how he held on. Editor: Indeed, a poignant exploration.