Self-portrait 1926

Albin Egger-Lienz made this self-portrait in 1926, and it looks like it was done with sanguine chalk. It's like he's figuring himself out right there on the page, you know? What I love is how the marks build up to create this really solid form out of almost nothing. The texture is soft, powdery, but the way he layers the strokes gives the face weight and depth. Look at the eyes, how they're just these dark smudges, but they totally hold your gaze. And the way the light catches the bridge of his nose, that's where you see the real skill. It’s not about perfection, it's about getting at something real and raw. This piece reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz, that same unflinching look at humanity. Art isn't about answers, it's about the questions we ask.