Self Portrait 1909

This is Jan Mankes' self-portrait in oil, and it feels like he’s inviting us into a quiet conversation with himself. He’s working with this really muted palette, all grays and browns and off-whites, and the brushstrokes are so delicate, almost like whispers on the canvas. Look closely, and you’ll notice how he builds up the form with these tiny, almost imperceptible touches. The texture of the paint is smooth, not too thick, but it's enough to give the face a soft, almost porcelain-like quality. The way he handles the light, especially around the eyes and the cheekbones, gives the piece a real sense of depth and intimacy. It reminds me of the early portraits of Lucian Freud, the way he was able to capture a vulnerability in the human face. It's a reminder that art is always talking to other art, across time.