Self-Portrait 1911

Curator: This is C.R.W. Nevinson's "Self-Portrait," housed here at the Tate. The support measures 311 by 232 millimeters. What strikes you initially about it? Editor: There's a sort of…intense stillness. Like he's caught between worlds, between the real and the painted. Curator: Nevinson's early work, including this self-portrait, reflects a deep engagement with the artistic and social currents of his time. Consider the means of production here. Editor: Right, the materials themselves. There's this muted palette and the way he's worked the paint. It feels almost like he's trying to capture something fleeting, like a shadow. Curator: The subtle gradations of light and shadow across his face suggest a self-awareness, perhaps even a questioning of identity. Editor: He is very young in this portrait. Makes you wonder what he's thinking, what he's dreaming of. It's almost haunting in its directness. Curator: Indeed. It offers a potent reflection on the artist and the self. Editor: It's a powerful invitation to reflect upon ourselves too. I am really drawn in.