Self Portrait with Black Eye Patch 1915

Rik Wouters made this self-portrait, using oil on canvas, at a time when he was experiencing a lot of health problems. Wouters's brushstrokes are so visible, creating a tactile surface that feels both vulnerable and strong. The mix of pinks, blues and reds – even on his skin – is so interesting. The black eye patch isn't just a detail, it's like a window into the artist's state of mind, his literal and metaphorical vision. Look at how the patch contrasts with the bright, almost hopeful blue of his other eye. It makes you wonder what he was really seeing, or not seeing, at the time. The colors are more than just colors; they express a feeling. Wouters’s work reminds me a lot of Paula Modersohn-Becker’s, especially in how they both used color and form to convey deep, personal truths. Art is such a powerful way to have a conversation across time, you know?