Untitled Self Portrait 1993

Francesco Clemente made this untitled self-portrait with watercolor, and I can just imagine him at work, trying to get it right. It's all about the body, smudged in thick strokes of red. Clemente’s Self Portrait is this sort of blood-soaked expression, with fleshy limbs and a weary face. The red suggests violence and passion. It’s so raw and primal. It reminds me of the work of Marlene Dumas who uses the medium of watercolor to such potent and emotive effect. I wonder if Clemente felt trapped or exposed, caught between the desire for self-expression and the fear of vulnerability? That single line connecting the mouth to the chest – is it blood or something else? These material qualities allow the artist to communicate feeling and intention. Clemente’s work reminds us that painting is a way to keep the conversation going, to inspire each other, and to find new ways of seeing and feeling.