Visual Art

What is a self-portrait?

Sofonisba Anguissola (c. 1532 - 1625)She served as court painter to the Queen of Spain.She also painted several self-portraits and family portraits.

Vincent Van Gogh

1853-1890

A self- portrait is an art work made by an artist, using their own image, and themselves as the subject matter.

Jan van EyckMan in a Red Turban

(1433)

My painting is one of the first examples of a self portrait.My name is Jan van Eyck!

Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun painted several self-portraits that were hugely successful in the Paris Salons. Here is her portrait at age 22.

Élisabeth Vigée-LebrunSelf-portrait1782

My name is Albert Druer, my work was based on math,proportion , and perspective. Which was better than some of the artists of my time!

THE ARTIST USUALLY WORKS FROM A REFLECTION IN A MIRROR.

WITH THE ADVENT OF THE CAMERA ARTISTS COULD THEN USE A PHOTOGRAPH TO MAKE THEIR SELF PORTRAITS.

Early cameras…

Lorenzo di Credi (Florentine, c1457/1459-1536), Self-Portrait, 1488, oil on panel transferred to canvas, 44 x 30.5 cm (17 3/8 x 12”) ©National Gallery of Art, Washington, Widener Collection

Self Portrait

Charles Willson Peale, Self-Portrait with Angelica and Portrait of Rachel, c. 1782-1785, oil on canvas, 91.8 x 68.9 cm (36 1/8 x 27 1/8”) ©Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Bayou Bend Collection, Gift of Miss Ima Hogg

Self Portrait

Self Portrait

Pablo Picasso

1881-1973

Self Portrait

Mary Cassatt

1844-1926

We started to see their emotions……………

Gustave Courbet, Self Portrait (The Desperate Man), c. 1843.

Self Portrait

Kathe Kollwitz

1867-1945

Self Portrait

Andy Warhol

1928-1987

Self Portrait

Marc Chagall

1887-1985

We see their personality

Roger Shimomura

1939-

Self Portrait

Frida Kahlo

1907-1954

You are going to make a realistic self portrait,

like mine!Stare into my eyes and

see who blinks first.

Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Self portrait,

c. 1577

The goal of this assignment will be to create a self-portrait that is interesting and

artistic, rather than just informational.

Although these portraits are drawn well, they are not expressive. The compositions are not exciting

and basically pretty boring.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SELF PORTRAIT AGAIN. HOW HAS THE ARTIST MADE

THIS MORE INTERESTING?

What about in this one?

These images show the viewer looking straight ahead. Are they still dramatic and interesting?

Be creative with how you approach a portrait. Your composition is important, and it’s not always the front of the face that creates a successful work of art.

Don’t be afraid to make expressive marks.

THE IMPORTANCE OF VALUE SHOULD NEVER BE OVERLOOKED.

Using contrast by putting white next to darks creates a dramatic effect.

You may also think about adding props to your portrait to help convey a message.

We are going to practice first.