Selvportræt 1912

This is a self-portrait by Poul S. Christiansen, a kind of black and white study, really, oil on canvas. I wonder what it was like for Christiansen to stand before a mirror, scrutinizing his own features, and how he felt about representing himself in this way. I think he knew what he was doing! Look how he holds his tools, the brush, and the palette, as if to say, "I am an artist, and this is my trade." The tonal range of the painting is limited, and you get the impression of restraint and contemplation. It reminds me of some of the old masters, like Rembrandt, who also used light and shadow to create drama and depth in their portraits. There's something timeless about this image, and I bet Christiansen saw himself as part of a long tradition of artists looking into the mirror, and painting themselves, as a way of understanding themselves, and their place in the world.