Samir Rakhmanov, Self-Portrait, 2020 
Pastel on paper, 50 × 45 cm (19.7 × 17.7 inches) 
© Samir Rakhmanov 
 
"During the pandemic-induced isolation, I started working on self-portraits more, since our reflection in the mirror is the most faithful model, the one which is always ready to pose. This self-portrait is one of many I made in March-April 2020. Drawing it at night, under artificial lighting, I set myself a challenge of compositionally linking the hand with the head, while harmonizing and generalizing everything. The goal was for the two elements not to interfere with each other while preserving the dominance of the portrait." —Samir Rakhmanov