Zelfportret in ronde spiegel c. 1944 - 1990

Curator: Welcome. We're standing before Kees Stoop’s intriguing self-portrait, “Zelfportret in ronde spiegel," a print made sometime between 1944 and 1990. The piece uses an intaglio technique, specifically etching, and resides here at the Rijksmuseum. What’s your initial impression? Editor: The intimacy of this tiny window into the artist's world is immediately apparent. The confined circular framing intensifies the already powerful gaze. There is an arresting quality to it, like catching a fleeting moment of introspection. Curator: Indeed. Stoop employs the circular mirror not just as a reflective surface but also as a formal device. The geometry adds a layer of complexity, contrasting with the somewhat softened textures created by the etching process. The meticulous cross-hatching creates depth and form, emphasizing the psychological weight. Editor: The material process itself seems to echo this theme. Intaglio, with its reliance on acid to carve the image into metal, hints at a kind of slow, corrosive unveiling. We are given a rare glimpse, and one can feel the labor that went into the etching. The image appears as the labor of looking into himself. Curator: I agree. And in this piece the window or gateway to the outside world appears beyond Stoop's reflected visage and also seems reflected in the same glass. The contrast seems carefully planned and subtly executed to evoke questions about inner versus outer reality. His subtle mark-making technique adds greatly to the affect. Editor: Certainly, there are many more details to behold here. Considering his artistic practice involved rendering landscapes from around the world, this artwork represents a stark contrast from that endeavor. In the case of his portraiture practice, though, this image reveals how much labor the artist undertakes while looking into one’s soul, and what they decide to hide from themselves as much as the world. Curator: Thank you for those insights. It allows us to reconsider Stoop's work. Editor: It was insightful to analyze with you, thanks for bringing the piece to our attention.