Zelfportret: B-1-1, 11 februari Possibly 1942

Cor van Teeseling made this self-portrait, B-1-1, on February 11, sometime in the late 1930s or early 40s, with graphite on paper. Looking at this, I’m struck by the delicacy, the softness of his touch. It’s all about the gentle accumulation of marks, a real process of becoming. Up close, you can see each tiny line, each whisper of graphite that builds up the contours of his face. The shading around the eyes and the subtle gradations in his hair are incredible. It's like he's feeling his way through the form, letting the pencil lead him. The paper itself is so smooth. It is almost like skin, and he is caressing it. There is a lightness of being, or at least of drawing, that reminds me of Giacometti’s drawings. I think what’s so compelling about it is the way it captures a fleeting moment, an intimate glimpse into the artist's inner world. It feels unfinished, like a sketch in progress, but maybe that's the point. Art is never really finished.