Self-Portrait 1921

This is a self-portrait by Cuno Amiet, and it's like he’s used the canvas as a mirror to explore his own image and artistic identity. The palette is full of summery yellows and greens. Amiet’s brushstrokes are like dots, dashes, and jabs of pure color, giving the image a kind of shimmer. It’s like he's trying to catch the light and atmosphere of the moment. I can almost feel the sun on my skin! You can see the influence of artists like Van Gogh in his mark-making, but there's a real freshness to Amiet's application. It's like he’s standing in front of us, ready to engage. There's a real sense of immediacy and presence. His gaze is intense, and I wonder what he’s thinking. It's a little mysterious. Amiet is part of a long line of artists, like us, in a constant exchange of ideas, inspiring each other to create. Painting as a form of expression embraces so much ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations. It is so interesting how one painting can have multiple meanings.