Self-Portrait c. 1986s

Saul Steinberg drew this self-portrait, probably in the middle of the 20th century, using simple pen lines on a page torn from a spiral notebook. The image is so him, isn't it? The way he captures his essence with these basic shapes and lines is so efficient. Look at the round spectacles perched on his face and the vertical lines of the mustache. It’s funny, but also quite poignant. I wonder what Steinberg was thinking as he made this drawing? Was he just doodling, or was he intentionally trying to capture something deeper about himself? To me, this image speaks of identity, representation, and the endless possibilities of drawing as a form of self-expression. He reminds us of Picasso's line drawings somehow. These artists are always talking to each other across time, riffing off one another, and inspiring new ways of seeing, thinking, and creating.