Self-Portrait 1940

This is Kálmán Kubinyi's self-portrait, made in 1940. The piece has a delicate, scratchy quality – like the artist is feeling his way through the image, tentatively. It's all in monochrome, giving it a timeless, slightly haunting feel. I love how Kubinyi's used line in this print; it’s not just descriptive, it’s expressive. Look at the way the lines vary in thickness and intensity, creating a sense of depth and shadow. And that line running down the cheek—is it a scar? An imperfection? It adds a layer of vulnerability to the image, making it feel more human. It makes me think a little of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who used printmaking to capture something raw and emotional. With both artists, it feels like the process of making is right there on the surface, a kind of dance between control and chance. It's not about perfection, it's about honesty, and that's what makes it so compelling.