Self-Portrait 1905

Max Beckmann made this self-portrait in 1905, probably with oil paint on canvas. The way he lays down each brushstroke, each dab of color, makes me think about how painting is as much about the process as the final image. Up close, you can really see the physicality of the paint. It's not about hiding the brushstrokes, but about letting them build up, layer upon layer. Look at the background, how the muted greens and grays create this hazy, dreamlike space. And then there’s Beckmann’s face. Notice the stubble, rendered in a scumble of ochre and white, capturing the prickly texture of his beard. Each mark feels like a little decision, a little experiment in how to capture light and shadow. Beckmann reminds me of other artists like Lovis Corinth, who were also grappling with how to represent the world in a way that felt both real and deeply personal. In the end, art is all about these conversations across time, where artists build upon each other's ideas and push the boundaries of what's possible.