state of the art – a couple of self portraits

30. July 2021 blog topics of general interest, fine arts, portraits art, painting, portrait

For many years I painted a self-portrait every year. I called the series “State of the Art”. Unfortunately, I stopped because I didn’t want to be perceived as a narcissist. On the other hand, what artist is not a narcissist? 🙂

The example for this year certainly reflects a lot of what the Covid-19 crisis brought us. And the effects are very diverse – and by no means over.

state of the art 2021. 这不是我自己 (this is not me myself)

Much later I remember this well-known painting by Rene Magritte: “Ceci n’est pas une pipe” and so I thought of tearing the picture up. But well, in a way this is my “state of the art” anyway. So it stays.

Ceci n’est pas une pipe by Rene Magritte

Last year my “state of the art looked like this, subtitled: hommage à Zhang Huan 張洹

friedrich zettl self portrait 2020 — state of the art 2020

Probably from 1987 or 1988.

From a period when I became fairly familiar with the Chinese ink wash technique.

early self portrait — state of the art 1985

When I looked for older self-portraits I realize that some are lost – or like in this case – damaged. Looks like I should take better care of my paintings but I tend to treat them like garbage 🙁 I don’t think there is any point in trying to remove the mold stains. So I better give it the title: “state of the art 2050”.

This work is from my early stage but it means a lot to me. I took one of my best friends into the picture, he is standing at the door and he soon died tragically afterward.

As said I did many self-portraits. The first work in a cycle is always interesting. What can I say? I was just very young ……

state of the art 1977. Bill C. would have said,” Yes, but I did not inhale”.

More of this kind can be seen in: portfolio

Zettl Fine Arts

paintings graphics calligraphy

16 comments on “state of the art – a couple of self portraits”

These self-portraits reveal your inner and outer nature. I’d say they are a step above what most of us have–selfies or posed photographic self-portraits.