Man with a Pipe (Self-Portrait) 1907

Editor: This is "Man with a Pipe (Self-Portrait)," a monochrome ink drawing by Emil Nolde from 1907. There's a starkness to it, almost aggressive, even though it's just a portrait. What strikes you about this self-portrait? Curator: Ah, Nolde! Always diving headfirst into the churning seas of emotion. For me, it's like looking into a fractured mirror, isn't it? He's not presenting a polished image; rather, it feels like he’s flinging his raw self onto the page with this almost brutal honesty. I think you hit it on the head—aggressive. But does it hint at a vulnerability lurking beneath those bold strokes? Perhaps it’s a performance? Editor: A performance? In a self-portrait? Curator: I mean that this piece isn't about perfect representation; it's a primal scream rendered in ink! Those jagged lines, that disproportionate hat... It's like Nolde is deliberately dismantling the conventional idea of a self-portrait and inviting us to engage with his inner turmoil. Is he mocking himself? Challenging the viewer? Or both, do you think? Editor: That makes sense. It’s definitely not flattering! I guess I hadn't considered how intentional the ugliness might be. It does force you to really look. Curator: Exactly! And that’s Nolde in a nutshell: uncomfortable, challenging, and profoundly human. Expressionism often serves this very purpose – to pull apart our polite veneers. Does viewing it change your initial reading of “aggressive”? Editor: I think it adds layers to it. Now I see the aggression as maybe a defense mechanism. I definitely feel like I understand it, and Nolde, a bit better now.