Self-Portrait at Midnight 1969

José Luis Cuevas made this self-portrait at midnight using ink, watercolor, and graphite on paper. It’s somber. The color palette is limited, almost monochromatic, and you get the sense that he's trying to figure something out. That’s what artmaking is all about, right? The washes of diluted ink create a ghostly atmosphere, and the quick, nervous graphite lines add a sense of anxiety, like he’s in a hurry, or has something on his mind. Look at the way the figure on the left almost dissolves into the background. It's like a memory fading away. Then, your eye is drawn back to Cuevas’s face, that stare. It’s not a flattering image, but it’s honest. There’s a raw, vulnerable quality that reminds me of some of Philip Guston’s later work. Both artists aren’t afraid to show the messiness of being human, and that’s what makes their art so compelling. Ultimately, this piece captures a moment of introspection. It’s not about answers, it's about the questions.