Zelfportret: B-1-1, 28 januari Possibly 1942

Cor van Teeseling made this self-portrait, B-1-1, on January 28th, with pencil on paper. It's all about the quiet, isn't it? The subtle gradations of light and shadow that bring this face forward. You can almost feel him pressing the pencil harder here, lighter there. It's like a dance between intention and accident, each mark building upon the last. Look at the way he renders the cheekbone, the way the light catches it just so. It’s not about perfection, it’s about capturing a moment, a feeling. The texture of the paper, the grain of the pencil, all become part of the story. It reminds me of some of Giacometti's portraits, where the lines seem to search for the form, never quite settling. Ultimately, art is a conversation, a back-and-forth between artists across time. This piece invites us to join in, to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the table.