WILLIAM KENTRIDGE (SA, 1955 - )

'SELF PORTRAIT (TESTING THE LIBRARY)' 

PHOTOLITHOGRAPH ON PAPER

WITH MATTBOARD + FOAMCORE BACKING

IMAGE SIZE : 29CM X 25CM

MATTBOARD SIZE : 48CM X 44CM

UNFRAMED

CONDITION : MINT

William Kentridge's self-portraits and self-images, woven throughout his artworks, serve as introspective windows into his psyche. Across various media, these representations capture his emotions, reflections, and evolving identity, conveying vulnerability and self-awareness. They transcend physical likeness, assuming symbolic and metaphorical dimensions that explore his relationship with history, society, and art.

Kentridge's recurring self-portraits blur the lines between personal journey and universal human experiences. Inviting empathy and introspection, they challenge conventional identity notions and urge contemplation of the self's multifaceted nature. These gateways into the human psyche explore the complexities of the human condition, encouraging viewers to engage with Kentridge's inner world and the interconnectedness of self and world.

William Kentridge's Self Portrait "Testing the Library" (1998) is a thought-provoking artwork executed in charcoal on paper. The work showcases Kentridge's signature expressive technique, with loose, gestural lines and smudged textures. This poignant representation explores themes of identity, knowledge, and creative struggle. By immerging himself in the chaos of books and papers, Kentridge symbolically confronts the weight of cultural heritage, intellectual curiosity, and artistic responsibility.

As Kentridge states, "the drawings are not just images, but also records of the process of thinking, of the activity of drawing." 

William Kentridge is a South African artist known for his prints, drawings, and animated films. He was born in Johannesburg in 1955 and studied at the University of the Witwatersrand and the Johannesburg Art Foundation. Kentridge's work often explores the political and social issues of his native South Africa, as well as broader themes of time, memory, and history. He is considered one of the most important contemporary artists working today.

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