Self-Portrait 1901

This is a self-portrait by Jacek Malczewski. It's hard to pinpoint exactly when it was made, but looking at it I can imagine him carefully layering paint to build up a sense of depth and atmosphere. The colors are muted, but there are still moments where the brushstrokes feel really deliberate and full of life, like in the detail of his face and beard. I can imagine Malczewski studying his own reflection, trying to capture not just his likeness but something of his inner self. There's a quiet intensity to his gaze that makes me wonder what he was thinking and feeling as he worked. The whole thing makes me think about other artists who have turned to self-portraiture as a way to explore their own identity and the act of painting itself. Artists are always in conversation, always riffing off of each other's ideas and pushing the boundaries of what painting can do. It’s not just about making an image but allowing it to be something else entirely.