Self-portrait 1926

This self-portrait by Albin Egger-Lienz in 1926 seems to emerge right before our eyes, sketched with a humble, earthy red chalk. I imagine him in front of the mirror, that red stick in hand, trying to capture his very essence in those final months. The texture of the paper feels soft, and each stroke dances across its surface like a whisper, building up the shadows and light. Look at the intensity in his eyes, those soft lines around them, and the weight of his gaze. You can almost feel him searching his own depths, trying to understand who he is. I'm curious about the choice of color here. That rusty red, so raw and elemental, so connected to the earth. It feels like a nod to something ancient, something deeply human. It reminds me that we're all just passing through, leaving our marks as best we can.