Tracey Emin's new set of 8 lithographs depicting herself are incredibly personal auto portraits and revelatory. Viewed almost as an intimate tiny sketchbook of herself, a visual diary. These editions are great examples of Emin's radical painting style which has been influenced by Expressionism. These works showcase universal feelings, raw and bittersweet emotions, which are Emin’s constant subject surrounded around the idea of love, loss, intimacy, and longing. In making herself the subject of her work, and concentrating intensely on figuration, Emin creates bridges with the rich art-historical tradition of the female figure and female nudes. She shows strong emotive force in these pictures, as seen for example in the work of male painters Munch and Schiele, which Emin admires and studied throughout her artistic oeuvre.
“ The size and simplicity – it felt very comforting; drawing these was very comfortable. Not an aggressive action, painting is too forceful. But this is done without judging myself with the idea of portrait. I did my degree in fine art print making, which is quite rare, but it was my choice, I really loved the outcome. I love the way everything changes after you do a simple drawing and it comes from the printing press and you are accountive with the ink and everything is happening with each mark. „