Self-Portrait 1928

Ernst Barlach captured his own likeness in this drawing, using what looks like graphite pencil, or maybe charcoal. It’s fascinating how Barlach builds up the image with these short, scribbly lines, almost like he's feeling his way around his own face. Look closely, and you'll see how the texture of the paper becomes part of the drawing, adding a subtle graininess to the shadows. Those dense, almost frantic marks in the background really make his face pop, giving it this intense, brooding presence. And then there are these softer, more delicate lines around his eyes, suggesting a kind of vulnerability, or weariness. It reminds me of some of Käthe Kollwitz's self-portraits, that same unflinching gaze, that same commitment to capturing the weight of human experience. There's so much to see here. It's not just a likeness; it's a whole world of feeling, scratched onto paper.