Coronation Master“Marcia Paints her Portrait”

15th C

There is a long history of self-portraiture in art.

Some of this is because of the availability of the self as a model.

John Singleton Copley“Self-Portrait”

1770

We are all curious about our own identities and wonder how the perceptions others have of us might square with what we know about ourselves; self-portraiture can be used to explore this universal question.

Albrect Durer“Self Portrait in a Fur Cloak”

1500

Self-portraits throughout history range in their self-expression in many ways.

Some are very formal and provide little information beyond the image of the artist.

Angelica Kauffmann“Self Portrait”

1785

Some artists render themselves as idealized and romanticized in their self-portraits.

Gustave Courbet“Desperate Man (Self Portrait)”

1843

In an effort to imply drama or emotion, some self-portraits provide insight into the artist by the emotions depicted.

Henry Fuseli“Self-Portrait”

1777

Vincent van Gogh“Self Portrait”

1887

The textures that Van Gogh achieves paired with his stern expression points to some psychological insight.

Vincent van Gogh“Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe”

1889

This piece also uses interesting

textures and also implies a story.

Why is his ear bandaged?

Lovis Corinth“Self-Portrait with Skeleton”

1896

Notice that this artist is not concerned with idealizing himself.

Giorgio De Chirico“Self Portrait”

1922

Diane Edison“Self-Portrait (Shadow)”

1996

Victor Brauner“Self Portrait”

1931

Brauner’s portrait idealizes in a different way-- he has mutilated himself in this image.

Henry Church“Self-Portrait”

1880

Another approach is to include things in the portrait which are significant to your life.

Frida Kahlo“Self-Portrait with Small Monkey”

1945

In portraits by Frida Kahlo she often sits stiffly in the center of the image while pets, plants, or objects with great symbolism are incorporated around her.

Frida Kahlo“Self-Portrait”

1947

Auguste Bouquet“Self-Portrait as a transvestite”

1831

Another, occasionally humorous approach to self-portraiture is rendering yourself as something or someone else.

Luis Cruz Azaceta“Self-Portrait as a She-Wolf”

1985

Red Grooms“Self-Portrait with Hat Top,

Maine”1977

Paul Cezanne“Self-Portrait”

Salvidor Dali“Self Portrait for ‘Impres-sions of Africa’

”1938

Finally, some artists prefer to only depict a portion of themselves in a self portrait.

David Hockney“Self-Portrait with Maurice Payne, London”

1977

David Hockney“Self-Portrait in old Powis Terrace studio, London”

1972

James Ensor“Self-Portrait with Masks”

1899