Zelfportret: B-1-1, 15 februari - Cor van Teeseling

A sensitive self-portrait by Dutch artist Cor van Teeseling, rendered in sanguine chalk in 1948.

This self-portrait by the Dutch artist Cor van Teeseling, dated 15 February 1948, is executed in sanguine chalk. The medium allows for a soft, monochromatic warmth, which the artist employs to model the contours of his own face with precision. The composition focuses on the head and shoulders, presented in a three-quarter view that directs the subject's gaze slightly away from the viewer.

Van Teeseling uses the chalk to create varying degrees of pressure, resulting in delicate lines for the facial features and broader, lighter strokes for the shading of the hair and clothing. The technique reflects a disciplined approach to draughtsmanship, common in mid-twentieth-century European portraiture. The artist captures a sense of introspection, with the soft application of the red pigment lending a tactile quality to the paper surface.

The work is signed and dated in the lower right corner, providing a clear record of its creation. As a study of the self, it offers insight into the artist's technical capabilities and his interest in the human form. The lack of background detail ensures that the viewer's attention remains fixed on the psychological presence of the subject. This print reproduces the original chalk textures, maintaining the integrity of the artist's mark-making and the specific tonal qualities of the sanguine medium. It is a quiet, contemplative piece that demonstrates the effectiveness of minimal colour in portraiture.