Self-Portrait c. 1916

Curator: Here we have Lovis Corinth's "Self-Portrait," a small etching now housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s immediately striking; a portrait emerging from shadows, radiating a raw vulnerability. Curator: Indeed. The piece exemplifies the directness possible with the etching process. Look at the network of lines—the material manifestation of his expressive vision. The copper plate itself bears the marks of his labor. Editor: And those lines coalesce to form a powerful image. The deep shadows suggest a man wrestling with inner turmoil, his gaze unflinching despite the darkness. Curator: The consumption of such a self-portrait also speaks to the changing role of the artist. Corinth is not just depicting himself but also offering his inner world for public consumption. Editor: An intriguing dance between revelation and concealment. The symbol of the artist confronting his mortality, captured in ink. Curator: A process of applying acid to metal, mirrored in the self-scrutiny of the artist himself. Editor: Yes, the image stays with you, hinting at depths unseen. Curator: A powerful reminder that art is both process and profound statement.