Zelfportret 1938

Curator: Here we have Huib Luns's "Zelfportret", created in 1938. The Rijksmuseum houses this drawing, rendered through etching, aquatint and possibly other intaglio methods. Editor: It strikes me as somber, the grey hues accentuating the figure's serious, almost melancholic expression. The etching itself appears very dense in the figure's clothing, juxtaposed by very open mark making surrounding it. Curator: Indeed, the medium reinforces a certain intimacy. Luns was part of a broader social milieu that championed the graphic arts. Think of the availability and relative affordability of prints and drawings; they were objects of exchange within an intellectual circle. Editor: The detail in his face, rendered through fine, delicate lines, contrasts markedly with the broad, gestural strokes of the fur collar. Note, too, how the light catches the glasses. Curator: And how the etching technique itself facilitates this textural variation. Etching also demands a high level of skill, something admired within the Dutch art scene during that interwar period. Luns worked within a clearly defined set of parameters related to materials and their value within the artistic sphere. Editor: Absolutely, and he uses those techniques to give us depth through carefully considered tonality. It's as if he's inviting us to dissect not only his appearance, but also the structural composition of his face. We feel close, despite the seriousness. Curator: Considering his family history and artistic upbringing, the creation and circulation of self-portraits also enabled him to place himself, quite literally, in a lineage of artists while promoting a very particular, crafted image of self. Editor: So, it’s not just a face; it is a crafted performance, one created through both image and circulation of that image. Food for thought. Curator: Precisely. Looking beyond the mere subject matter of his portraiture brings more understanding of its cultural role. Editor: It's a potent reminder of the multiple ways artistry resides not only in form but also in social context.