Autoportrait 1905

Henri Manguin made this self-portrait with oil on canvas sometime in his career, and what strikes me is its casual, almost unfinished feel. The brushstrokes are so visible; you can see the process right there on the canvas. Look at the way Manguin builds up the face with these daubs of color, pinks and greens and blues, not really blending them. It's like he’s grabbing the light and slapping it right onto his cheek. The beard is a dark, scumbled mass, but even there you see these little flicks of lighter color. The paint isn’t super thick, but you can still feel the texture, the way the brush moved across the surface. That little red mark right on his collarbone, that’s the key! It feels so random, but it brings the whole thing to life. Manguin reminds me a little of Bonnard, that same love of color and light, that same willingness to leave things a little unresolved. It's a conversation, this painting thing, and these guys were definitely talking to each other.