Self-Portrait 1909

This self-portrait by Lovis Corinth, etched sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, feels like a glimpse into the artist’s soul through a veil of delicate lines. I can imagine Corinth hunched over the plate, acid eating away at the metal, each stroke a deliberate act of self-reflection. You know, I wonder what he was thinking as he stared into the mirror? There’s a directness in his gaze, but also a hint of weariness. The etched lines are so alive; they pulse with the energy of his hand. See how they define his face? Each mark seems to carry the weight of experience. It reminds me a bit of Rembrandt’s self-portraits—that same unflinching honesty. Artists, we’re all just trying to see ourselves, and in doing so, maybe catch a glimpse of something universal. It's a constant conversation, this back-and-forth across time, inspiring and challenging one another. And for me, that's where the real magic happens.