The emptiness around me

In the 1970s, Raveel often paints works in which he considers or questions the themes of painting and artistry. Self-portraits also often pop up during this period, often in painter's robes but also in simple, everyday attire, as here. Raveel portrays himself realistically as he gazes imperturbably into space. In his hand he holds something that looks like a sheet of paper that is empty, blank, just like the white square. To the painter's right, we see an organic shape reminiscent of a cloud. The bright white seems to expand into the painting's surroundings: the work merges with the exhibition space.