Self-Portrait II 1926

Here is a self-portrait made by Georges Rouault. It’s etched in dark, brooding ink. The tonal range goes from almost white to almost black, with so much in between. Look at the marks making up the shadows, clustered, close together, yet still distinct. The artist might have been staring into a mirror, right? Trying to record his own likeness, maybe even scrutinizing himself? It feels honest, raw, not prettified. He probably didn’t want to present an idealized version of himself. There's a darkness around the face that suggests the weight of thought, and the knowledge of the world. Rouault's work often explored themes of suffering and redemption. His paintings feel like they were made through a kind of inner turmoil, a process of wrestling with deep emotions. So maybe that’s why I find this self-portrait so compelling. Like other artists who look deeply at themselves, Rouault holds up a mirror to all of us.