Zelfportret: B-1-1, 14 februari Possibly 1942

Cor van Teeseling made this self-portrait in pencil on February 14th. The date is right there in the corner, like a little love note to himself. The artist is using these delicate, almost tentative marks, really building up the shadows to give his face a sculptural quality. Look at the side of his nose, how it catches the light. You can almost feel the bone structure underneath. And that gaze, direct and unwavering, there is real presence. What's fascinating is how he leaves certain areas unfinished, or only lightly sketched in. Like the collar of his shirt, it’s just suggested, not fully realized. That reminds us that art is always a process, a journey of discovery. It's a conversation that the artist has with themselves and with the world. I'm reminded of Lucian Freud, who also had a knack for capturing the raw, unvarnished truth of the human form.