Portrait du côté miroir 1959

Victor Brauner’s painting, Portrait du côté miroir, employs oil on canvas to explore the intricacies of identity. Brauner uses simple tools and techniques, building up layers of paint to create texture and depth. The material qualities of oil paint – its viscosity, opacity, and ability to blend – are central to the work's impact. The canvas provides a stable support, while the oil paint allows for the creation of subtle gradations of tone and color. The flat application of paint, combined with the simplified geometric forms, creates a sense of distance and detachment. Brauner was associated with the Surrealist movement. As such, the painting can be seen as a critique of conventional portraiture. This is a rejection of academic traditions in favor of a more intuitive and expressive approach. The artist draws on personal experience and the unconscious mind to create an image that is both enigmatic and strangely compelling. Ultimately, by attending to the materials and making of this work, we gain a richer understanding of Brauner's artistic vision, moving beyond the traditional distinctions between representation and abstraction.