Self-Portrait 1927

Vilhelm Lundstrom made this stark self-portrait with oil on canvas. The pared-down palette and geometric forms give the piece a modern edge, don't they? It makes me think about how artists use reduction as a way to find what’s most essential. Lundstrom wasn't afraid to let his process show. You can almost feel him, standing there, brush in hand, figuring out how to translate himself into paint. Look at how the planes of his face are constructed with these bold, flat shapes. It's like he's building his own image, brick by brick. The cool blues and browns create a somber mood, but there's also something very direct about the way he looks out at you, like he’s saying, "This is me, no frills." When I look at this, I can't help but think of other artists who weren't afraid to get real like Marsden Hartley, another painter who found power in simplicity. Art is all about these conversations, echoes across time.