Self Portrait in a Shaving Mirror 1942

Here's an etching by Armin Landeck called "Self Portrait in a Shaving Mirror." It's all in shades of gray, built up with these really fine, wiry lines that give it a kind of anxious energy. I can just imagine Landeck hunched over the plate, scratching away with his tools, trying to capture his own likeness. It’s like he’s wrestling with his reflection, each line a little jab or caress. And those eyes behind the glasses! Are they judging? Questioning? It's fascinating how simple lines can convey so much complexity. This reminds me of other artists who used self-portraiture as a way to explore their inner worlds. Think of Rembrandt, constantly scrutinizing his own face over the years, or Frida Kahlo, using her image to process pain and identity. Landeck is part of that lineage. It's a conversation across time, a bunch of artists looking in the mirror and asking, "Who am I?" And maybe, "What is art?"