Self-Portrait Nude Torso 1991

Avigdor Arikha made this self-portrait nude torso with pastels, layering color upon color. Look how he builds up the skin tones with reds, oranges, and pinks, leaving traces of the paper showing through. The surface has a lovely toothiness, like a rough canvas, inviting touch. You can almost feel the push and pull of the pastel stick against the paper. I like the way he uses the black marks around the figure to create a sense of depth, the way the color both defines the shape and fades into the ground. Arikha, who was deeply influenced by artists like Velázquez and Ingres, worked with a keen eye for observation. He proves that artmaking is an ongoing conversation, with each artist offering a fresh perspective on age-old themes like the self.