Old Faun (self portrait)

"Old Faun (self portrait)" by Theo van Doesburg, created in 1909, exemplifies early experimentation with Expressionism. Van Doesburg, a pioneering Dutch artist and a founding figure of De Stijl, employs pencil on paper to explore expressive qualities and personal identity. As a self-portrait, the work emphasizes raw emotion and subjective perception, characteristic of its genre. The title, "Old Faun," hints at mythological or symbolic connotations, rendered through expressive lines and deliberate techniques that highlight van Doesburg’s early style rooted in emotion and avant-garde experimentation.