Eighteen voices of time, one face - Portret 1

This series of eighteen self-portraits by Véronique Noteboren originates from an exploration of identity, time, and visual language.

In each work, she not only examines herself, but also the ways in which humanity has represented itself throughout the 20th century.

The starting point lies in a documentary about Lucian Freud, who chose to reveal his self-portrait only after his death. This raises the question of what it means to present oneself, and when the right moment for that might be.

In an era where images of ourselves are constantly present — stored on phones, shared and quickly consumed — she deliberately chooses to slow down and truly observe.

For Véronique Noteboren, this project forms a fourfold investigation.

Firstly, into the self-portrait, a subject she had not previously explored in this way. Secondly, into the technique of watercolor, a medium in which control and surrender are in constant balance.

At the same time, she explores her versatility by immersing herself in the major art movements of the 20th century — from symbolism and Art Nouveau to pop art and realism. Each movement demands its own approach to color, form, rhythm, and expression, informed by study, intuition, and the atmosphere of the time, often accompanied by music from that period.

Finally, she seeks a subtle translation into the 21st century: what remains, what changes, and how these styles relate to the present.

Together, the eighteen portraits form a timeline, though not a literal reconstruction. They are interpretations in which her face adapts to different visual languages while remaining recognizable.

This creates a tension between identity and style, between past and present.

This series is not a search for a single truth, but a collection of perspectives.

A study in observing, in creating, and in the courage to reveal.