Depression, Selbstporträt 1932

Karl Wiener made this self-portrait called Depression in 1932, and it’s all washes of watercolor. I love how the paint feels so thin and transparent, especially around the edges, so you can see the paper underneath. Look at the way he’s built up these layers of blue and purple, it’s a beautiful technique. It’s like he’s using the color to create a mood, a sense of melancholy that really fits with the title of the piece. The face, it's like he's trapped in a cage of sadness. I’m also drawn to the way he's rendered his glasses; the dark smudges almost obscuring the eyes. It makes you think about how we see ourselves, and how depression can distort our perception. It reminds me a little of Edvard Munch, the way he uses color and form to express intense emotion. Ultimately, this is a painting that invites us to sit with ambiguity and uncertainty. It reminds us that art is often more about asking questions than providing answers.