Self-portrait 1911

Curator: Here we have Max Liebermann's "Self-portrait," currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: He looks like he's about to give me some very serious, possibly unwelcome, advice. Very intense. Curator: Liebermann was a leading figure in German Impressionism, and this etching showcases his skill with line and shadow. It’s interesting to consider his place in art history given the later condemnation of his work by the Nazis. Editor: There's such confidence in those lines, even the quick, almost scribbled ones. It’s like he knew exactly what he wanted to convey. Curator: Self-portraits can be powerful statements of identity, especially when created during times of political and social upheaval, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. It’s his gaze, so direct. What does it mean to meet your own eyes in this way, and then put that out into the world? Curator: Precisely. The act of self-representation becomes a powerful form of agency. A fascinating work, indeed. Editor: Gives me chills.