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

Cor van Teeseling made this self-portrait on the first of February. I love the gentle way he used pencil. It’s like he's feeling his way around his own face, trying to understand it. Look how the lines are soft and almost tentative, especially around the eyes and mouth. You can see the paper through the drawing. The texture is so important here. This isn't about showing off skill, it's more like a conversation, a quiet, thoughtful exploration. I wonder what was going through his mind that day, what feelings or questions he was trying to capture. There's a vulnerability here that's really touching. It makes me think of other artists, like Agnes Martin, who used simple lines to express deep emotions. Art like this reminds us that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.