Self-portrait with Cigar 1914

Rik Wouters made this self-portrait with a cigar, using oil on canvas, and what strikes me first is the raw energy in the brushstrokes. There’s a real sense of immediacy, like he’s capturing a fleeting moment. Look at the background – it’s a riot of blues, reds, and yellows, applied in these short, choppy strokes. It’s almost as if Wouters is using color to create a sense of atmosphere, a feeling of being in the room with him. Then, in contrast, see how he's modeled his face. There are these soft pinks and blues, giving him a gentle, almost melancholic expression. And that cigar, jutting out from his mouth, adds a touch of rebellious charm. Wouters reminds me a little of Bonnard, in the way he uses color to evoke emotion, but there's also a kind of vulnerability here that’s all his own. His mark making reminds us that art is not about perfection, but about the messy, beautiful process of trying to capture something real.