Paula Modersohn-Becker, 1907
Self-portrait with a camellia branch
Paula Modersohn-Becker holds a camellia branch in this serene self portrait, a symbol of the eternal cycle of blooming and withering, life and death. Her gentle expression and enlarged eyes mirror the coptic saints, and hint at her interest in the antique mummy portraits she'd seen during visits to the Louvre. On July 26th, 1900, Becker noted in her diary, “I know that I won’t live very long. read more