Self in Mirror in Landscape 1981

Klaus Fussmann painted this ‘Self in Mirror in Landscape’ using watercolor on paper. It's kind of like Fussmann is playing with the whole tradition of artists doing self-portraits, but with a twist. I see a quick, all-in-one-go kinda feel to it; an urgent need to get the image down, capturing a fleeting moment, the sky, trees, and his own reflection. I'm thinking about what it must have been like standing there, in front of the mirror, trying to catch his own gaze, while also dealing with the changing light and the wind. The paint is thin and fluid, which gives it a sense of immediacy. The brushstrokes around the mirror suggest movement and the passing of time. I love that he's included himself in the landscape, almost like he’s part of the scenery. It's a reminder that we're all connected to the world around us, and that our identities are shaped by our environments. It makes me think of other artists like Hockney, who were always pushing the boundaries of what painting could be.