Zelfportret, april 1942

Cor van Teeseling made this self-portrait in April 1942, using graphite on paper. It’s as if he's trying to capture not just a likeness, but something deeper, something about being alive in that moment. Look closely at the way Teeseling uses the pencil. The lines are tentative, searching. See how they build up around the eyes, creating a sense of depth, but also a kind of vulnerability? The shading is subtle, almost whispered, giving the face a soft, ethereal quality. It’s like he’s feeling his way through the process, letting the drawing emerge organically, rather than imposing a rigid structure. The way he renders his hair, with those simple, elegant strokes, speaks to a certain kind of care, a tenderness in the act of self-representation. It reminds me a little of Lucian Freud's early drawings. There’s a similar intensity, a focus on the raw, unvarnished truth of the human face. Ultimately, it's about the power of art to capture something fleeting and profound.