Zelfportret met vlinderdas 1913

Curator: Today we're looking at Jan Mankes' "Self-Portrait with Bow Tie" from 1913. It's a striking piece rendered in printmaking, a self-portrait with remarkable clarity for the medium. Editor: There’s a somber quality to this print. It feels incredibly direct, even confrontational in its simplicity. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the societal expectations placed on young men in the early 20th century and how self-expression through art allowed Mankes to question conventional masculinity. How does that tie, an almost affected formality, complicate or comment on gender roles of the time? Editor: The bow tie itself, while seemingly conventional, appears slightly off-kilter. It might signal a playful subversion of social norms rather than simple adherence to them. We should think about how ties have always functioned to mean the intersection between conformity, status and class. Curator: I'd suggest thinking about that expression, that serious face he presents: it is as if he wants the viewer to wonder if we should take his image seriously. Also, his almost asymmetrical gaze draws you in. Is it vulnerability or critique? Perhaps the caricature itself provides agency for an artist often marginalized in mainstream art historical discourse? Editor: The directness of the gaze is almost unsettling. Mankes doesn’t idealize himself; he presents a raw, perhaps unflattering, portrayal, accentuated by those stark lines. Perhaps he's acknowledging and accepting flaws, an honesty not often seen in portraiture? There are some great traditions around the use of unflattering self portraiture such as those of Rembrandt in the 17th Century. Curator: Indeed. The piece serves as a powerful commentary on the politics of self-representation. The lines—the etching medium allows a precision and yet rawness that invite questioning perceptions about portraiture and challenge established norms. Editor: The almost monochromatic palette forces the viewer to focus on form and expression. He looks determined. And despite that somewhat rigid form the eyes reveal his inner self, right? It makes me think about the concept of an icon, something still taking shape. Curator: I think it underscores the power of art as a platform for identity exploration and resistance, which holds true across social and political boundaries. Editor: Exactly. Thinking about Mankes' emotional landscape and the symbols he used, the piece speaks to how individuals make a visual mark but in line with an honest form of artmaking. Curator: Absolutely. It is fascinating to unpack how his print reflects Mankes' position within his context. Editor: The work invites a closer look at art, identity, and what we find enduring about how individuals see and present themselves.