Autoportrait

Autoportrait (Self-Portrait, 2018) by Berend Strik is part of the artist's ongoing engagement with portraiture and self-representation — one of the oldest genres in art history, from Rembrandt's many self-portraits to Frida Kahlo's deeply personal works.

Strik's approach to self-portraiture is characteristically indirect. Rather than photographing himself directly, he often uses the studio space, the materials of his practice, and the processes of making as stand-ins for the self. The self that emerges from his work is distributed across objects, spaces, and materials.

As he explains: "Photos are imaginary... For me, photos are unfinished, open, incomplete." This philosophical stance — rejecting the self-portrait's implicit claim to self-knowledge — positions his practice as investigation rather than revelation.

The French title "Autoportrait" rather than the Dutch "Zelfportret" suggests an international orientation — positioning this work in dialogue with the broader European and American art worlds rather than specifically Dutch contexts.

Sources: Wikipedia