Self Portrait of a Self Portrait

This Self Portrait of a Self Portrait is the first time I have seen and captured myself. I’m pleased.

Gabriele Münter inspired this work with her ‘Self-Portrait in front of an Easel (Ca. 1908-09)’ and her quote, “The painting of portraits is the boldest and the most difficult, the most spiritual, the most extreme task of the artist.”

I saw Münter’s work at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City with a legendary companion, Janet. As we spiraled up the Guggenheim’s levels, Carol Bove’s creation, geometry, and assemblages filled the space. On the top level, Robert Rauschenberg’s dissolution of boundaries between art, feeling, and chaos resonated bold.

Bove guided, Rauschenberg energized, and Münter stayed. I stood in front of her portrait and saw. But it wasn’t until later, Janet showed me a picture of the Münter portrait on her phone, that I saw Münter deeply. That catalyzed me to do my own self portrait, exactly as I was standing in front of Ms. Münter’s that moment in the museum. That’s to say, my Self Portrait of a Self Portrait, is captured at the moment in the Guggenheim looking at Gabriele Münter’s self-portrait.

Now, the work came out as a dyptych, and the astute observer may wonder how one person would be two images? Good question. It’s one work, and it’s a self portrait (of a self portrait). Both pieces of the dyptch are the one self-portrait. One self.

Now that’s settled, this is my best, most faithful, and accurate representation of myself. I see myself here much more clearly and as me than any picture. And that’s kinda how self-portraits go, at least mine did.

So, this captured moment had much happening and going on into it, and that’s just one moment built upon a life full of them. So thank you so much to all who have poured into me to make the person in this work.

Now you have seen me. Does it please you?