Zelfportret met stropdas: B-1-1, 9 maart Possibly 1942 - 1949

Cor van Teeseling made this self-portrait with pencil on paper on March 9th. The date is neatly written on the bottom corner of the drawing, which gives it a slightly diaristic feel. You can see the process in the varying pressure of the pencil, how it gently coaxes the image into being. The subtle gradations of tone create the illusion of three-dimensionality, especially around the cheekbones and jawline. The hair is rendered with delicate, feathery strokes, capturing its texture and movement. The artist's gaze is direct, yet somewhat melancholic. There's a softness to the lines, a gentle touch that invites you in. The tie seems almost like an afterthought, a detail that anchors the portrait in a specific time and place. This has some of the quiet introspection of a Lucian Freud drawing, a similar sense of searching for truth through observation. It's a reminder that art is often a conversation with oneself, a way of making sense of the world through the act of creation.