Self Portrait with Yellow Hat 1965

Kmetty János made this self-portrait with pastels, capturing himself in a moment of deep contemplation. The hand on the forehead: a universal gesture of thought, recalling antique depictions of melancholia and intellectual struggle. This motif travels through time. Consider Dürer's "Melancholia I", where the winged figure sits with her head similarly propped, surrounded by symbols of unfulfilled potential. We see it again and again, in portraits of philosophers, writers, and artists. Why does this gesture endure? Perhaps because it speaks to the burden of consciousness, the weight of ideas. It reflects a deep, subconscious connection to those who have pondered life's mysteries before us. Each artist, including János, taps into this collective memory, adding their own unique voice to the chorus of introspection. This portrait is not just an image of an artist, but a mirror reflecting our own moments of profound thought.