Self-Portrait in Profile c. 1986s

This is a self-portrait in profile, made by Saul Steinberg with ink on paper. It's all about the line here, isn't it? The way Steinberg draws, it’s like watching him think. Look at that eye, divided into quadrants, floating on the side of his head – it’s both an eye and an architect's rendering. The line is so sure, but also so funny, like he’s in on a joke. It's like a map of a face, not the thing itself. The mustache, thick and heavy, contrasts with the lightness of the rest of the drawing, giving him this serious, almost worried expression, as if burdened by his own thoughts. Steinberg always reminds me of Picasso, especially those playful line drawings, but with a kind of melancholic wit that’s all his own. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always have to be serious; sometimes, it’s just about making a mark and seeing where it takes you.