Self Portrait 1917

Walter Gramatté probably made this self-portrait in oil, with visible brushstrokes and a palette of muted, earthy tones. I see a darkness around the figure, like the artist is emerging from the shadows. I imagine Gramatté looking in the mirror, turning his gaze inward, trying to capture not just his likeness, but his essence. The paint is applied in thick, deliberate strokes, especially around the eyes and mouth, as if he's trying to carve out the truth of his being. The way the light catches the planes of his face, the subtle shifts in color – it's like he's building himself, layer by layer, with each brushstroke a thought, a feeling, a moment of self-recognition. It reminds me of other artists who use self-portraiture as a form of self-interrogation, like Paula Modersohn-Becker or even Van Gogh. Artists, you know, are always in conversation, responding to and building upon each other's work across time. It's an ongoing process of creative exchange.