Zelfportret: B-1-1, 8 februari Possibly 1942

Cor van Teeseling made this self-portrait in pencil on February 8th. The date is right there, as if to say, "I was here, on this day, drawing this." Look at the way the pencil marks build up the shadows on his face, creating a soft, almost blurred effect. The lines aren't harsh; instead, they blend together, giving the portrait a gentle quality. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the paper, gently shaping the features, pressing harder in some areas and lighter in others. The simplicity of the medium adds to the emotional depth of the piece. There's no fancy technique or elaborate color palette, just a straightforward, honest attempt to capture his likeness. Teeseling's self-portrait reminds me of artists like Lucian Freud, who used simple materials to explore the complexities of human form and emotion. Art, after all, is about the ongoing conversation between artists across time.