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

Cor van Teeseling rendered this self-portrait in pencil around February 14th. The direct gaze, a hallmark of self-portraiture, invites our scrutiny, but it is the relaxed pose and the slight turn of the head that draw us in. Consider how this mirrors the contrapposto found in classical sculptures, a pose that lends a sense of ease and naturalness. In antiquity, contrapposto was used to convey a sense of inner harmony and balance. Here, it might suggest the artist's attempt to capture not just his likeness, but also a sense of his inner self. The act of self-representation has deep roots, evolving from royal and religious figures asserting power to more introspective explorations. This young man, in his self-portrait, participates in a dialogue that spans millennia, each artist adding their own inflection to the enduring human desire for self-understanding. It is the cyclical return and reinterpretation of these symbols that enrich our understanding of the human experience.