Zelfportret staand met schetsboek: B-1-1, 23 februari Possibly 1942

Cor van Teeseling made this self-portrait with a sketchbook in pencil on February 23rd. This drawing feels like it emerged tentatively. I can imagine him, looking at his own reflection, trying to capture not just the shapes but maybe a fleeting feeling. His mark-making is delicate. Look how he uses soft hatching to build up the shadows around his eyes, giving them a deep, soulful quality. The sketchbook he holds feels almost like a shield. What’s in it, I wonder? Does it hold other drawings, ideas, or secrets? It's like he’s inviting us into a quiet, intimate space of reflection. It makes me think about other artists who turn inward, using self-portraiture as a way to understand themselves and their place in the world. It reminds us that art is often about a conversation, both with ourselves and with the world around us.