Omakuva 1914

Tyko Sallinen made this self-portrait with oil paints and a brush. I wonder if it was difficult for him to look at himself so intently, for so long? The canvas is a meeting place, in a way. Sallinen’s gaze is really direct, confronting. The colours are quite muted, with that deep, almost melancholic blue contrasting with the grey of his face, and the white of his jacket. The paint looks really buttery and thick and has been applied with real conviction. I think the most interesting part is around the nose and mouth. I’m fascinated by what other artists are doing. I feel like we’re all in this ongoing conversation together, sharing our thoughts and ideas through marks and colour. Sallinen’s painting reminds me a bit of some of the early expressionists. He clearly had something he wanted to say, a way he wanted to communicate his vision.