Self-portrait

Self-portraits are pictures that artists make of themselves. People have been creating self-portraits for a very long time, but they became more common in the mid-15th century. This happened because mirrors became better and cheaper, and artists started making small portraits on wooden panels. One of the earliest known self-portraits on a panel is Portrait of a Man in a Turban by Jan van Eyck from 1433. He was part of a group of people who often asked for portraits, especially in places like the Netherlands.

During the Renaissance, when people had more money and became more interested in individuals, self-portraits became very popular. By the Baroque period, most famous artists made drawings of themselves. These self-portraits were sometimes printed and sold, given as gifts, or kept in studios to show off an artist's skills to new customers. Rembrandt made an amazing number of self-portraits, which showed how powerful this kind of art could be and encouraged many others to try it too.

Types

A self-portrait is a picture an artist makes of themselves. Artists have included themselves in their paintings since very early times, sometimes as the main subject and sometimes as smaller parts of a bigger work. In the past, artists often put themselves in scenes from stories or religious paintings, usually as faces in the background.

Artists have used many different ways to make self-portraits, not just paintings but also drawings and prints. Famous artists like Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt made many self-portraits. Over time, more artists began including their families in these paintings. Today, artists also use video to make self-portraits, which lets them share their voices with viewers.

Gallery: Inserted self-portraits

Sandro Botticelli’s 1475 painting of the Adoration of the Magi includes a small self-portrait in the corner. This is a common way artists added themselves to big paintings.

Many women artists have also made self-portraits. Artists like Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun and Frida Kahlo painted many pictures of themselves. These self-portraits often show the artists working with their painting tools. Women artists have been important in showing themselves in different roles in their art.

Antiquity

Artists have made pictures of themselves for a very long time. In Ancient Egyptian paintings, sculptures, and Ancient Greek vases, we can see images of artists working. One of the earliest known self-portraits was created around 1365 BC by Bak, the main sculptor for the Pharaoh Akhenaten. The writer Plutarch tells us that the famous Ancient Greek sculptor Phidias may have included pictures of himself in the artwork called the "Battle of the Amazons" on the Parthenon. However, none of these very old self-portraits still exist today.

Asia

Self-portraits have a long history in Asian art, especially in China. Many of these portraits are small and show the artist in a big landscape, sometimes with writing about the scene. Another style, linked to Zen Buddhism, includes lively and playful self-portraits, while some stay closer to formal portrait styles.

European art

Illuminated manuscripts contain early examples of self-portraits, showing artists like Saint Dunstan and Matthew Paris at work or presenting their books. Orcagna may have painted himself in a fresco from 1359, though this is uncertain.

Among the earliest known self-portraits are works by Johannes Aquila in Velemér (1378) and Martjanci (1392). In Italy, artists such as Giotto di Bondone, Masaccio, and Benozzo Gozzoli included themselves in their paintings. Sandro Botticelli also added himself as a viewer in his Adoration of the Magi from 1475.

Albrecht Dürer was one of the first artists to create many self-portraits. He made at least twelve images of himself, including three oil portraits. His self-portraits show him at different ages and often in fancy clothes. Dürer’s work helped make self-portraits more popular among artists.

During the Renaissance, many great painters like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo included themselves in larger works. Titian painted himself as an old man in the 1560s. Later artists such as Rembrandt became famous for their many self-portraits, showing themselves at different ages and in various costumes.

Self-portraits in general

Self-portraits are pictures that artists make of themselves. People have been making self-portraits for a very long time, but they became more common in the mid-1400s. This happened because mirrors became better and cheaper, and artists started painting themselves more often.

Artists sometimes show themselves working in their studios in these paintings. They might choose to dress in their finest clothes or show themselves as they really are while painting. Some famous artists, like Jan van Eyck and Vincent van Gogh, have made many interesting self-portraits over the years.

Art critics say there are different kinds of self-portraits. Some show the artist at work, while others show the artist’s feelings and thoughts. Artists can also put themselves into group paintings or show themselves as famous historical figures. With new technology, people can now create self-portraits in many different ways online and in social media.

Self-portraits often use mirrors, which became common in Europe in the 1400s. Early mirrors were curved, which sometimes made interesting effects in the paintings. Artists like Parmigianino and Salvador Dalí used mirrors to create unique and surprising pictures. Mirrors can also make it look like a right-handed artist is left-handed, unless they use two mirrors.

Many modern and contemporary artists use self-portraits to tell stories from their lives or to create imaginary scenes. These portraits can be very personal and full of meaning. Artists like Diego Velázquez, Rembrandt, and Pablo Picasso have made famous self-portraits that tell more than just what the artist looks like.

Diagnosing the self-portrait

Some artists who had health problems left self-portraits that help doctors study how health issues affect the mind. These portraits can teach us about self-perception in people facing mental or physical challenges. Artists like William Utermohlen and Bryan Charnley are good examples of this.

The artist Egon Schiele made a self-portrait that shows a moment of feeling alone. Researchers have looked at Schiele’s work to understand more about feelings and experiences shown in art.

Collections

One of the oldest and most famous groups of self-portraits is found in the Vasari Corridor of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. This collection began in the 1600s and includes over 200 self-portraits by well-known artists like Pietro da Cortona, Charles Le Brun, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, and Marc Chagall. Other important collections can be found at the National Portrait Gallery (United Kingdom) in London and the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Many famous artists have added their own self-portraits to these collections. Self-portraits can be paintings, drawings, or even photographs, and they show artists depicting themselves in different ways.