Self-Portrait c. 1986s

Saul Steinberg made this self-portrait using ink on paper. The line in Steinberg’s drawing is so simple, it’s almost like a child’s, yet it’s incredibly precise. He just lays it down like he’s tracing something already there. It’s like he’s revealing the hidden structure of his own face. I’m particularly drawn to how he renders the glasses. They aren’t just lenses; they’re these geometric prisons, distorting the eyes behind them. Notice how each eye is divided, almost dissected by these bold lines. The blankness of the page becomes a way to emphasize the details he *does* include – the sadness of the mouth, the bold mustache. Steinberg reminds me a bit of Picasso in his ability to break down form and reassemble it in unexpected ways. But where Picasso is all drama, Steinberg is all wry observation. Both artists knew that drawing isn't just about depicting what you see, but about revealing how you see.