Reading Man (Self-Portrait) 

Editor: Here we have Forrest Bess's "Reading Man (Self-Portrait)", a painting seemingly done in oil, with a really raw, expressive feel to it. The colors are bold and the figure's pose is so casual, almost intimate. What strikes you when you look at this painting? Curator: It's intriguing how Bess, an artist deeply involved in his own subconscious and outsider art practices, chooses to represent himself, and reading, in this manner. Considering the socio-political landscape of the mid-20th century, where self-representation was becoming increasingly fraught and identity-focused, how do you read this seemingly simple act of reading? Editor: I see someone finding solace or perhaps intellectual escape. Curator: Exactly. Think about the historical context: Bess worked as a bait fisherman most of his life, removed from established art circles. This painting speaks to the democratizing potential of knowledge, accessible through the book in his hands. Also, the naivety present challenges institutionalized art values; by creating raw depictions, Bess is questioning conventional methods and artistic skills, and their values, as he paints a portrait. How do you feel the scale affects your impression of that raw presentation? Editor: Making the piece feel even more personal. It's not monumental, but intimate. Curator: Precisely. Its modest size rejects grand narratives, inviting us into Bess's personal sphere, to witness an unvarnished self. It also becomes political in what it rejects from the art establishment, and their historical grandstanding of large canvases. It becomes an artwork and a statement simultaneously. Editor: That's a great point about democratizing knowledge, presented as anti-establishment values! I was so caught up in the composition I hadn’t fully placed it historically. Curator: Context, as ever, is key. Editor: Well, thanks to you, I have a whole new perspective on what Bess might have been conveying!