Autoritratto 1928

Julius Bissier made this self-portrait in 1925, and it's like he's trying to figure himself out, one brushstroke at a time. He’s used a muted palette and careful rendering to create a somber and reflective mood, as if painting himself was a process of self-examination. The painting is super smooth, almost like glass, and the way he’s blended the colors gives it this soft, dreamlike quality. I’m drawn to the details in his face, those subtle shadows and highlights that make him feel so present. And his hands! They seem to be holding something back, or maybe they’re just waiting. The way he portrays himself is so different from his later, more abstract works, but you can still see that meticulous, thoughtful approach. Bissier's approach reminds me of Lucian Freud, in the unflinching way he looks at himself. It's like he’s saying, "Here I am, take it or leave it." But more than anything, this painting feels like a question mark.