Zelfportret: B-1-1, 30 januari Possibly 1942

Curator: The Rijksmuseum holds this delicate work by Cor van Teeseling: a self-portrait rendered in pencil, believed to have been created on January 30th, possibly in 1942. Editor: There's a starkness to it. The muted greyscale tones create a somber mood, a quiet intensity captured in the sitter's gaze. The composition is relatively simple, yet effective. Curator: Indeed. Observe the artist's adept use of hatching and cross-hatching. Notice how these techniques skillfully model the planes of the face, suggesting a play of light and shadow across the visage. Editor: I am also struck by how the clothing is rendered as being almost blurred. Do you feel that might convey vulnerability or perhaps, in the broader context of its time, perhaps a desire for invisibility, to not be noticed? Curator: That's a compelling perspective. Invisibility can act as a kind of rebellion. Given the historical backdrop of 1942, we might view this blurring as a deliberate obfuscation, a subversive commentary on the omnipresent gaze of authority. It is a stark refusal of the clarity that the forces demanded. Editor: The eyes are doing something really fascinating, too, because while the face is soft in appearance, they cut through that ambiguity with intense precision. Do you notice that one seems wider than the other, or is that an intentional expression? Curator: Fascinating observation! It is a slightly asymmetrical, and whether intentional or not, this small detail infuses the portrait with an additional layer of psychological depth. The varied eyes contribute to the sitter's piercing and somewhat unsettling gaze. Editor: Thinking about it all together, you can consider that there's a subtle commentary on the act of seeing and being seen. I appreciate how the technical simplicity complements the thematic complexity. Curator: An astute reflection. By carefully analyzing its form and placing it within its historical setting, we've hopefully illuminated its richness, and revealed how much complexity is bound within a seemingly simple self-portrait.