Helena Schjerfbeck,
Three self-portraits

Helena has a slim, oblong face, beautiful,
thin, very
red lips and wisps of hair around her face.
She is looking a bit down on us. Look, here I am!

I know. I know everything – still a young face of Helena who is a mature woman now.

On the left, on a portrait – there is a girl with quite plump cheeks. No one can even  anticipate the future charm of beautiful Helena. Pale like people here in the north, in Finland.
Helena lost her father early. The sky became
overcast.
Over the head of the girl hung swirling dark navy blue and grey clouds from which she will not be able to escape
– from those grey dreams. But she will hold her cheeks raised with the glassy
white of cumuli and with her yes wide open in hope.
She will be raising her cheeks towards the sky but it will remain still grey.
After many years there will appear a delicate light blue colour, when Helena is a mature woman, a painter visiting Italian Veneto.

The painting on the right is a sarcastic cry, maybe laughter?
Helena is old, from the previous years only the bloody-red spot on the lower lip is left.
Is that you, Helena? Are you still here? Maybe you will stay?
And sit down?
You know, sometimes I also raise my chin proudly.
Like you.