Zelfportret: B-1-1, 10 maart Possibly 1942 - 1943

Curator: I’m drawn to the quiet intimacy of this pencil drawing. There's a softness in the gaze, a vulnerability that feels so exposed, don’t you think? It's like peering into someone's soul laid bare, right? Editor: I notice the evident economy of means that define this portrait, it's all pencil on paper. Given its tentative dating to 1942-43, one wonders what material constraints dictated the choice for such humble, available means, rather than, say, paint? Curator: Possibly. I like the simple idea that maybe that it allowed him to capture a moment in time, to distill something about himself, quickly and directly... as an honest meditation. Editor: Possibly... but it raises material and labor questions. "Zelfportret: B-1-1, 10 Maart," attributed to Cor van Teeseling, isn't just a study in self-representation, it embodies a crucial intersection of material limitations and artistic agency, especially given the wartime context and associated rationing. Curator: Yes, true. There's definitely a somber quality to this self-portrait. Maybe the simplicity, the bareness, amplifies this feeling. The softness of the lines almost feels like the subject is fading, disappearing right before our eyes, like a memory. I wonder how much of this sense comes from simply knowing the work is of that era. Editor: It makes me think more of access to supplies and what would have been seen as sensible at that point in time. Look closely at the paper itself—it probably wasn't an expensive paper either. Van Teeseling likely chose this material as one reflecting a context. A self-portrait in pencil says a lot, no? Curator: Absolutely. But looking beyond materials... the light in his eyes... do you see it? Editor: I agree. Thinking of the scarcity, his work attains another level of profundity...it's more than just a drawing, right? It's also about what resources were deemed valuable. Curator: Right. It’s almost an act of defiance, this self-portrait made with just pencil and paper. What it conveys in the lack feels more powerful than if it were rendered in oils. Editor: Indeed. The humbleness here seems more relevant to interpreting those choices. Curator: Seeing it in that light makes me admire it all the more. So powerful! Editor: Absolutely, now if you need me, I’ll be reading more on mid-century paper production.