Self Portrait 1960

Valerii Lamakh made this self-portrait with what looks like thick strokes of oil paint, a world of ochres, browns, and muted greens. You can almost feel the push and pull of the brush, the artist building up the face and form through layers of textured marks. I wonder what it was like for Lamakh to look at himself so intently? Those eyes, almost shut, seem to suggest an inward gaze, like he's searching for something deeper than just a physical likeness. Each stroke feels deliberate, carving out the planes of his face, defining the shadows and light. The way he's used color—those flashes of red around the ear, the cool blues in the neck—it's not just descriptive, it's expressive. It reminds me of other painters who use portraiture to explore inner states, like Paula Modersohn-Becker, who wasn't afraid to show vulnerability and strength in the same image. It makes you think about the ongoing conversation between artists across time. Each one building on the work of those who came before, finding new ways to see and feel and share those experiences with us.