Self-Portrait in Profile c. 1986s

Saul Steinberg made this self-portrait in profile with ink on paper, and it's like looking into the mind of an artist who sees the world as one big, playful line. I'm picturing Steinberg with his pen, maybe in a cafe, quickly mapping out his face with these wonderfully wonky lines. I can see how one form emerges from another. It's like he's drawing his thoughts as much as his features, capturing the essence of “himness” with a quirky confidence. The glasses are great, one big eye staring out and daring you to laugh. It’s so immediate and direct, but also very considered. It’s kind of like Philip Guston’s late work, in that it doesn't try to be perfect or pretty, it just is. Steinberg makes this drawing look so easy, but I bet it took him a lifetime to get this good. And isn't that what art is all about anyway? Learning from each other, riffing off ideas, and daring to draw our own weird faces.