Zelfportret: B-1-1, 1 maart Possibly 1942 - 1943

Cor van Teeseling made this self-portrait in pencil on paper in the Netherlands, on March 1, sometime before his death in 1942. The drawing is a poignant, unfinished sketch of the artist's face. It's hard not to view this work through the lens of history. Van Teeseling was a communist in a time of growing political extremism. During the Second World War, he was active in the Dutch resistance, activities that ultimately led to his arrest and death at a young age. This image offers a window into the artist's inner life and could reflect the turmoil of the time, or perhaps even a premonition of his fate. The Rijksmuseum's acquisition and preservation of this piece reflects the changing role of museums in preserving not only artistic achievement, but historical narratives. Understanding this work fully requires us to explore archives and historical documents, piecing together the social, political, and personal context that shaped its creation. The meaning of art is contingent on its history, and that history is something we must actively investigate.