My favourite: Maria Lassnig, Double autoportrait sans pitié

The Kunstmuseum Basel’s collections comprise ca. 4,000 paintings, sculptures, videos, and works of installation art, as well as the ca. 300,000 drawings and prints from seven centuries held by the Kupferstichkabinett. And around 200 people work at the Kunstmuseum Basel in a wide variety of professions - full-time, part-time, on an hourly basis. Some of them present their favourite works from the collection here.

1. Name and role at the Kunstmuseum Basel?
Anita Haldemann, Head of the Department of Prints and Drawings, Deputy Director

2. Job description
As head of the Kupferstichkabinett (Department of Prints and Drawings) I am mainly concerned with works on paper. Drawing is fascinating because it allows to capture ideas and fantasies directly with simple means like pencil and paper. It offers endless possibilities for experimentation. Drawings are honest, they don't pretend anything and allow me to be very close to the artistic process, as if I were looking over the shoulders of artists.

3. What's your favorite work?
Maria Lassnig's Double autoportrait sans pitié, 1999.

4. Why?
I admire how this artist has presented herself unembellished at all ages: A little astonished, but without batting an eyelid, she looks in the mirror. At the same time, she also presents herself as a kind of caterpillar with her perception turned inwards. Simply great!