Self Portrait 1967

Vilen Barsky made this self portrait, and its date is unknown. It's a study in lines, isn't it? Look at the way the lines build up the form of his face and head, like a topographical map, or one of those connect-the-dots pictures we had as kids. The act of drawing feels like a kind of search, a way of mapping the landscape of the face. I imagine him looking in the mirror, his brow furrowed, his eyes intently mapping the contours of his face. He uses these continuous lines, moving slowly as if he's tracing memories, feelings, and the weight of existence. It feels like he is trying to capture not just his likeness, but also a sense of his inner self, his history etched into the lines and shadows. And the hair – it's like a crown of thorns, or maybe a halo of frenetic energy. It reminds me that artists are always talking to each other, borrowing ideas and pushing them in new directions. This portrait embodies that spirit of conversation, that sense of shared inquiry into what it means to be human, to be an artist, and to leave your mark on the world.