Before there were selfies taken with cell phones, there were masters of the self-portrait. Most people know that when an artist draws, paints, or sculpts a picture of themselves, it is called a self-portrait. It is believed that self-portraits have been made since the earliest of times, but it wasn't really until the Early Renaissance that artists frequently depicted themselves as the main subject in their work. Portrait of a Man in a Turban, shown above, by Jan van Eyck in 1433, is thought to be one of the earliest known self-portraits from this time. Historically, artists sometimes had to use themselves as their own subject matter, due to lack of money to pay for models that would have to pose for long periods of time.
Below are 5 famous artists who are considered to be masters of the self-portrait, and created many images of themselves. You can see more examples of their self-portraits by clicking on their name below each painting.
Self-portrait with Bonito, Frida Kahlo, 1941
Frida Kahlo(1907-1954), was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, and also for her artworks inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Her paintings often were based on her life experiences, and incorporated both realism and fantasy in the subject matter. She created at least 56 self portraits.
Self-portrait with Two Circles, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1665-69
Rembrandt van Rijn(1606-1669), was a Dutch painter, printmaker, and draftsman. He was a prolific artist in all three of these mediums, creating over 300 paintings, 300 etchings, and over two thousand drawings! He created over 100 self-portraits, which show him at various ages throughout his lifetime.
Self-portrait, Vincent van Gogh, 1887
Vincent van Gogh(1853-1890), was a Dutch Post-Impressionist artist. He is perhaps one of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history, and is known for his vivid colors and thick brushwork painting style. He created 35 known self-portraits.
Self-portrait, Pablo Picasso, 1907
Pablo Picasso(1881-1931), was a Spanish painter and sculptor. He is best known for co-founding the art movement of Cubism, a style of art that used sharp edges, and abstracted forms in the subject matter. He created at least 30 self-portraits.
Self-portrait ll, David Hockney, 2012
David Hockney(1937-present), is an English painter and printmaker. He was an important contributor to the Pop art movement of the 1960's. He currently has incorporated technology into his art, and does some of his painting via the use of an Ipad! He has created around 100 self-portraits.
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