Zelfportret 1889 - 1949

This is a self-portrait by Herman Moerkerk, made with pencil on paper. The marks are so delicate and layered, like he’s feeling his way around his own image, not trying to capture it exactly, but more like…mapping it. Looking closely, you can see how the pencil strokes aren’t just lines; they’re textured, almost vibrating against the page. The paper itself is pale and smooth, but the pencil work gives it depth, like you could reach out and feel the stubble on his chin, the soft felt of his hat. See how the shading around his eyes and mouth isn’t heavy, but it suggests a weight, a history? It’s like he's saying, "this is me, not just how I look, but how I feel about looking." It reminds me a little of some of the portraits by Van Gogh, the way they dig into the psyche of the sitter. There’s a real conversation happening, not just a depiction. And like Van Gogh, Moerkerk reminds us that art isn’t about answers, but about asking questions and seeing where they lead.