Zelfportret, mei 1942 1942 - 1945

Editor: This is Cor van Teeseling's self-portrait, drawn in pencil between 1942 and 1945. The delicate lines create an almost ethereal quality, yet the gaze is quite direct. What do you see in this piece beyond a simple self-representation? Curator: What immediately strikes me is the historical context. Created during the height of World War II, this self-portrait transcends mere artistic exercise. It becomes an act of self-affirmation, perhaps even resistance. How might the social and political climate of the time have impacted Van Teeseling's self-perception and its artistic portrayal? The lightness of the pencil strokes almost suggests a vulnerability, a fragility perhaps heightened by the circumstances of war. Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn’t considered the vulnerability aspect so strongly. I was more focused on the simplicity of the lines, and took it for granted. Curator: Think about the very act of creating art during wartime. The assertion of one’s existence, one’s identity, amidst widespread destruction and dehumanization, becomes a powerful statement. Also, the lack of vibrant color becomes relevant, making me wonder about the limitations of the period, or maybe even of an active choice. Does this inform our reading of the work at all? Editor: It's amazing how the context transforms my reading. It moves from being just a sketch to being this quiet act of defiance. Curator: Exactly. And in examining these nuances, we unlock richer, more meaningful interpretations of not just the artwork itself, but the artist and the historical moment that birthed it. Editor: I see the drawing very differently now; it speaks to a specific moment of challenge and what it means to make art amidst everything that happened then. Curator: Indeed, art provides us with avenues to talk about difficult moments in history. This simple self-portrait serves as a time capsule through which to explore identity, resistance and the strength of the human spirit in times of conflict.