Självporträtt 

Eugène Jansson painted this self-portrait using oil on canvas, a traditional medium for artists of his time. What makes this painting compelling is the straightforward manner in which Jansson applied the paint. You can almost feel the texture of the bristles as he worked. The brushstrokes create a subtle sense of depth and volume, especially in the way light plays across his face. It's as if the paint itself is alive, capturing not just his likeness but also a sense of his inner state. Jansson's approach can be seen in the broader context of artistic experimentation that challenged traditional notions of painting in the late 19th century. Artists were exploring the materiality of paint, pushing the boundaries of what it could do, and blurring the lines between representation and abstraction. By focusing on process and material, we can appreciate this painting not just as a portrait, but as a testament to the artist's engagement with the very stuff of art.