Zelfportret 1911 - 1941

This self-portrait by Arend Hendriks is a small print rendered with etching techniques. The close proximity of the subject and the lack of colour create an intimate, albeit austere experience. Hendriks uses dense, cross-hatched lines to construct form and volume. This technique, reminiscent of older engraving methods, lends a tactile quality to the work. Notice how the sharp lines accentuate the contours of his face, the wrinkles on his forehead, and the frames of his glasses, lending a geometric austerity to the depiction. In semiotic terms, the etched lines function as signifiers, communicating not only visual information but also embodying the labor and process of creation. The absence of colour pushes the viewer to interpret the stark contrasts of light and shadow, engaging with the underlying structure. This self-portrait is not just a representation of the artist, but a meditation on the very act of seeing and representing, inviting us to consider how the artist's subjective experience is mediated through the formal constraints of the medium.