Onvoltooid zelfportret: B-1-1, 9 februari Possibly 1942

Cor van Teeseling made this self-portrait in pencil sometime around February 9th. It’s very understated, almost ephemeral; he’s there, but he’s also fading away. The drawing is all about seeing and feeling. The texture of the paper, its slight imperfections, become a part of the portrait itself. Look at the lines around the eyes, how they’re tentative, searching. It’s like Teeseling is trying to capture not just his appearance but also his inner self, that elusive sense of being. The softness of the pencil allows for a subtlety that other mediums might miss. It reminds me a bit of Giacometti's drawings, the way he uses line to create a sense of distance and presence simultaneously. Art isn’t just about making something; it’s about that conversation, that back-and-forth between the artist and the world. And in this self-portrait, Teeseling is definitely in conversation with himself, and with us.