Zelfportret van René Janssens in zijn atelier 1890 - 1936

This is René Janssens’ self-portrait in his studio, made with chalk, pencil and charcoal. I imagine Janssens sitting there, perhaps slightly slumped in his chair, intensely scrutinizing his own face in the mirror. You know that feeling of self-awareness that comes over you? I’m sure he felt that too. Every line and shadow seems carefully considered, yet there’s a certain looseness, a willingness to let the charcoal do its thing. Look how he renders the textures, the stubble of his beard, the soft folds of his jacket – it's all so tactile, almost begging to be touched. And there's a hint of melancholy, don't you think? Maybe he’s contemplating the fleeting nature of time. This piece reminds me of other artist’s self-portraits, like Van Gogh. They’re all in a conversation, these artists, echoing each other across time. It's like they're all trying to figure out this thing called art, this thing called life, together.