Oleg Vassiliev (b. 1931)

In Vassiliev's Self-portrait, the artist portrays himself against a large window overlooking an endless grid of similar windows that are bathed in a bright and hazy light. Details in the foreground are only truly discernible when illuminated by that distant light. The artist's face, and in particular his eyes are very dark. Although he seems to be looking directly out to the viewer's space, it is very difficult to see whether his eyes are open or closed.

This rare self-portrait was by Vassiliev for the cover of his autobiography How I Became an Artist.