"The Artist's Corner..."

"Je Suis Le Plus Libre"

(I am the most free) Self-portrait

Oil on canvas

Nicolas Martin

What I Like About This: Self-portraiture is one of my favorite art genres.  Here is a fine example of why... We see Nicolas in his studio, surrounded by the tools of his craft, all executed in wonderful detail. And the artist is highlighting his fantastic skill by prominently featuring his hands (perhaps the hardest physical feature to accurately depict) and with a total of no less than 4 rings visible on both hands.  His stoic facial expression and casual posture further illustrate his technical mastery as every wrinkle in his clothing is exactly as you'd expect and the trompe-l'œil of his use of perspective lends the work an almost 3-diminsional quality. This is a masterwork in every sense of the word.