Zelfportret: B-1-1, 2 februari Possibly 1942

Cor van Teeseling made this self-portrait with graphite on paper in 1942. Can you imagine the artist in front of a mirror, softly hatching lines to build up the form of his face? There’s a vulnerability here, a quietness in the eyes. Look how the artist uses gentle shading to define the planes of his face, giving it a soft, almost dreamlike quality. What was he thinking as he looked at himself? I wonder if he saw a strength, a vulnerability, or maybe a little bit of both. The interesting thing about portraits is that they're always a collaboration between the artist and the subject, even when, as here, those are the same person. It reminds me of other artists who use self-portraiture to explore identity and emotion. Each mark feels like a thought, a feeling, a moment captured in time. It shows the conversation between artists through time, each influencing and inspiring the other.