Zelfportret met schetsblok op schoot: B-1-1, 22 februari Possibly 1942

Editor: This is "Self-Portrait with Sketchbook on Lap: B-1-1, February 22nd", thought to be from 1942 by Cor van Teeseling, a pencil drawing currently residing at the Rijksmuseum. The delicate shading gives it a peaceful, almost contemplative feel. What strikes you about this particular self-portrait? Curator: Considering this was likely created in 1942, the relative calm is striking. During that period, artistic expression in occupied territories became a delicate act, often reflecting or subtly resisting prevailing political pressures. A self-portrait, especially one depicting the artist actively creating, speaks to a personal agency maintained during turbulent times. Notice how the gaze is directed outwards, engaging the viewer. What message is conveyed through that direct engagement, especially in this historical context? Editor: That’s interesting. I guess I hadn’t really thought about it as an act of defiance. The direct gaze does seem like a way of asserting himself, even in a small drawing. So, the act of creating and portraying that creation, can become its own form of expression? Curator: Precisely. In times of censorship or oppression, the very act of continuing artistic practice, choosing one’s subject, and controlling the narrative—even if it's "simply" a self-portrait—becomes a political statement. It’s a declaration of selfhood and resistance against imposed silence. And consider where this was displayed, or if it was even displayed at all, during the war. How did exhibiting art and freedom of expression play out in the Dutch art world during the German occupation? Editor: I see. So the setting, who got to see it, all become part of how we interpret it today. This artwork has layers! Curator: Absolutely. What I initially saw as a straightforward self-portrait reveals itself to be deeply embedded in the politics and constraints of its time, offering a poignant commentary on the role of the artist in society. Thanks, that’s a perspective I’ll certainly remember.