Self Portrait 

Here is Zoe Lerman's Self Portrait. As a woman born in the mid-1930s, Lerman navigated a world where artistic expression for women was often overshadowed, and her work emerges as a quiet assertion of identity within these constraints. The painting, with its muted tones and textured surface, captures Lerman in a moment of introspection, paintbrush in hand. There’s a deep sense of vulnerability in the way she depicts herself, leaning into the creative process. This image departs from the traditionally idealized portrayals of women, instead offering an honest, unvarnished view of the artist at work. Lerman’s self-portrait becomes a statement about the female gaze, turning inward to explore the complexities of selfhood through the act of creation. It reflects the subtle yet profound ways women artists have historically challenged and expanded the boundaries of representation.