Robert Flinkman

Robert Flinkman
Self Portrait
oil on canvas
27" X 18"
1998
copyright 1998 Robert Flinkman

 

June 5th, 1998            Friday

I've been reworking a self portrait I did about ten years ago. In it I held a still life, the size of the canvas is 27" X 18". I'm reworking it as to portray myself as a prince of the late Renaissance in the 16th century. Interesting. I've reworked the coat I wear to resemble more one of that period with embroidery on it, and I hold the book, The Prince, by Nicolo Machiavelli. To the upper right I included a landscape with a Renaissance castle, and to the left a night sky with a moon and stars. The castle, wall, lake and trees all have symbolism - some of it meaning self-defense, but the rest I'll leave up to psychologists and art historians. Usually I portray myself in my current times, but currently I've taken a step, a chance at something that could prove very significant in my life - a real chance taken here. This has been going on for a while, and with the past year I took a step back to rethink, reassess what I really have to do. I really had to wrestle with my conscience here. The rift I had with my parents really pushed me to make this choice, and in a way the results -  whatever they may be - they have also contributed toward. I have wrestled with my conscience concerning this, but I chose to do what I felt would yield benefit and change, though the means to obtain it I would rather had been otherwise. I know I'm being circumspect here, but I right now need to be.