Self-Portrait 1979

Manon Cleary made this charcoal Self-Portrait sometime in the 20th century, and what strikes me is the artist's exploration of light and shadow. It's almost like she's sculpting with charcoal, the strokes are soft, and layered, creating a sense of depth. The way Cleary uses charcoal is so intimate, look how she models her face, the soft gradations creating drama. You can almost feel the texture of the paper, like a gentle caress. Notice how the darkness envelopes her, a velvety void that accentuates the luminosity of her skin. The stark contrast is so bold, so vulnerable. The mark-making itself isn’t trying to hide anything – it’s open. It reminds me a bit of Käthe Kollwitz's self-portraits, that same unflinching gaze, that fearless exploration of the self. It's a reminder that art is a conversation, a dialogue across time, where artists borrow, steal, and transform each other's ideas.