Part 4 Project 6 Research point 2

Famous artist self portraits

Most artists seem to use themselves as models and many like Picasso and Rembrandt do so throughout their lives. 

Rembrandt (1606-1669)

It is thought that Rembrandt completed almost a hundred self portraits.  Some show him at his easel, some at leisure and others dressed in theatrical costume.  In fact they document his life.

It is thought that Rembrandt painted this self portrait as an exercise.  It shows a very diffident young man as yet unsure of his skill.  He is looking directly at the viewer with his mouth slightly open. There is intense light that seems to come from below.

Self portriat by Rembrandt at 22
Oil on oak panel (1628) (1)

In most of the self portraits Rembrandt looks pretty sombre but this lovely image shows a happy, smiling young man:

Rembrandt laughing - self portrait - 1628 (1)

In the year of his death Rembrandt was still painting himself and this is a most familiar image.  In most of the portraits I've looked at there is very little context.

Self portrait at the age of 63 - (1669) (1)

van Gogh (1853-1890)

van Gogh also painted many self portraits but over a much shorter space of time.  I can't find a single one where he looks happy.  There seem to be none of him as a really young man either.  Here he is 33 but I think he looks much older.  In all but his final self portrait he is bearded.

Self portrait with pipe - van Gogh - Spring 1886 (2)

Over a period of just over three years van Gogh produced many paintings of himself and they show a rapid change in his mental state.

His last self portrait was given by him to his mother on her birthday.  It is in a very different style to the one above - much lighter both in colour and feel.

Self portrait - van Gogh - September 1889 (2)

The diagonal marks typical of van Gogh give this haunting portrait a sense of immediacy.  van Gogh was plagued by mental illness throughout his life and some of his most sympathetic work was completed in his last few months.

Picasso (1881-1873)

I think this self portrait resonates with me because I have used charcoal recently although with less effect.  It is very early figurative work.

Pablo Picasso self portrait 1900
Charcoal (3)

I think is a very assured drawing for such a young man.  The structure of the skull is indicated very clearly through the tones and the eyes seem to follow you wherever you are.

By 1907 the style is beginning to change and become much more expressionistic.  It still has the dark spaces and highlights needed to create a portrait with depth.  The eyes still have great presence.

Self portrait by Pablo Picasso - 1907
Oil on canvas (3)

As he neared the end of his life Picasso painted himself in a self portrait that took several months to complete.

Self portrait facing death - Pablo Picasso - 1972 (4)
Crayon on paper

This time the eyes look just as large as before but they look somewhat fearful.

It is interesting to see the portraits arranged chronologically and compare the developing techniques and the changes to the individual style.

Not quite on task but there is a self portrait of Norman Rockwell that is great fun:

Triple portrait by Norman Rockwell, 1960 (5)

My main task here is to look at the self portrait in contemporary art and it's suggested that I start with Tracey Emin.

Tracey Emin

Emin is controversial and provocative and her self portraits are no exception.  However as I am supposed to be dealing with the face some of the most explicit can be put to one side.  Emin says that she often doesn't remember making a drawing and that it "comes from her inner self" (2). This one was a portrait done looking through the bathroom mirror and is one of her favourites.

Self Portrait in Mirror by Tracey Emin (6)

This is far less about the image but much more about "trying to capture the fleeting instant of my naked core" (6).  I don't know for sure but I think that Emin looked through the mirror not at her paper to do this.

It is this that prompted me to draw my portrait without looking:

Not in the same league but I think  I should have pushed on a bit probably with a heavier pen.

Emin has done more conventional portraits as well:

Tracey Emin self portrait
Ink and wash on paper (7)

This is a more considered and conscious piece of work but for me it lacks the life of the previous one. I feel, however that it is still a very introspective drawing.

I have to be honest and say that I'm not a total devotee of Emin although I've said that of artists before and as my understanding has grown I've changed my mind.

Lucien Freud (1922-2011)

Lucien Freud is one of the most prominent contemporary portrait artists of recent years.  This portrait is one he drew as a young man.  It is in a style that I recognise from my own learning, with hatching used to create tones and expressive marks to indicate the movement in the hair.  Freud is almost glaring at the viewer.

Lucien Freud self portrait - 1939
Pencil  (8)

Almost half a century later he painted this characterful image.  The mature artist has produced a mature painting and the tones (in oil) are used to indicate the handsome, aging face very dramatically. I can't get close up enough to see how the paint is applied but I feel it isn't as subtle as the finished work suggests.  This time the eyes are more downcast and reflective.  This painting touches a nerve and is full of  deep emotion.  Freud seems undeterred by growing older - rather he grows stronger.

Reflection (Self Portrait)  by Lucien Freud - 1985
Oil on canvas (9)

Andrew Salgardo (1982-)

I love the work of Salgardo because of it's apparent chaos.

Trust (self portrait) - Andrew Saldardo
Oil on canvas  (10)

The artist creates the image with small slabs of colour that combine and fool the eye into seeing tone. There are numerous drips and runs and that just adds to the power of the work.  Salgardo often uses an arm and in this way introduces another element to convey emotion.

I wondered what the portrait would be like without the arm so I cropped and straightened the image:

and immediately the context is gone and the emotional impact so much less.  Masterly.

I'm not sure whether this is a self portrait but I love it so I'll include it anyway.

The Opposite of Intention - Andrew Salgardo
Oil on canvas (10)

I thought this reminded me of the work of Jenny Saville (b1970) but when I checked it out Salgardo's work seemed much more flamboyant.

Self portrait by Jenny Saville (11)

Saville's self portrait is from a most unusual angle and the foreshortening makes her head look almost triangular and her shoulders very prominent.

In conclusion it's probably worth a thought about the purpose of a self portrait.

In the days before photography the drawing or painting was the only way of portraying an image.  An image of the face of the artist could be interpreted as publicity material so it was usually a realistic portrayal.  Now there is no such need so contemporary artists are much more free to be inventive or controversial.

I've really enjoyed this little excursion into contemporary self portraiture.  It's very inventive, provocative and lively.  I love it.




(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-portraits_by_Rembrandt

(2) http://www.wga.hu/html_m/g/gogh_van/16/

(3) http://www.wikiart.org/en/pablo-picasso/self-portrait

(4) http://arts.pallimed.org/2010/07/pablo-picasso-self-portrait-facing.html

(5) http://www.nrm.org/MT/text/TripleSelf.html

(6) http://artofericwayne.com/2014/02/13/

(7) http://www.artvalue.com/auctionresult--emin-tracey-1963-united-kingdo-self-portrait-1972226.htm

(8) http://www.wikiart.org/en/lucian-freud/self-portrait-1940

(9) http://www.wikiart.org/en/tag/lucian-freud

(10) http://www.andrewsalgado.com/work

(11) http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/paintings/jenny-saville-self-portrait-4976449-details.aspx