Self Portrait with an Easel and an Agonised Expression 

This is an undated self-portrait by British artist John Bratby, rendered with oil on canvas. Bratby's art often reflects the angst and intensity of post-war Britain, a period marked by social and economic change. Here, he presents himself not as a detached observer but as a figure deeply embroiled in the act of creation. His agonized expression and the raw, almost violent brushstrokes convey a sense of struggle. Bratby was associated with kitchen sink realism which focused on the mundane, but there is nothing mundane about this depiction of the artist. Bratby once said that the role of the artist was to "reveal reality." His commitment to revealing inner emotional states departs from traditional portraiture, and instead offers a window into the artist's psyche. The painting becomes a mirror reflecting the complexities and contradictions inherent in the creative process. It is a brave self-revelation that invites us to consider the emotional labor of art-making.