Autoportrait au chevalet 1930

Maximilien Luce made this self-portrait with oil on canvas. Look at the overall mood of the painting, the earthy tones and shadowy atmosphere. I can almost feel the quiet focus in the room as Luce stands before his easel. The brushstrokes feel exploratory, like he's feeling his way through his own image. I imagine him studying his reflection, noting every line and shadow, and then translating that onto the canvas. Maybe he's thinking about all the other self-portraits that have been made before, and how he can make his own mark. That small daub of white paint on his beard is so evocative. It's like a tiny spark of energy that brings his face to life. We painters are always riffing off each other, picking up on ideas and techniques from the past, and twisting them into something new. Painting is so physical. It's this ongoing conversation.