Outcast (Self-Portrait) 1921

Georgi Mashev rendered this dramatic self-portrait, "Outcast," in oil paint, a medium that allows for rich color and texture. Mashev’s focus on materiality is evident in the way he builds up the paint, creating a sense of depth and dimensionality. Look at the thick brushstrokes that define his furrowed brow and the shadowy hollows of his eyes; you can almost feel the weight of his gaze. The artist has engaged with the tradition of figurative painting, a skilled and labor-intensive practice with a long history. Oil paint, while a conventional fine art material, becomes a vehicle for expressing intense emotion, reflecting the social context of an artist grappling with feelings of alienation. The visible labor in the application of the paint emphasizes the artist's subjective experience. By highlighting the materiality and the artist's process, we can see how Mashev challenges traditional notions of the self-portrait, inviting us to consider the relationship between the artist's inner world and the external forces that shape his identity.