2009.06.02; H.J. Schumer, Self-portrait #3, photograph (1970’s)
Monday, June 15, 2009
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The self-portrait is the artist's most personal form of expression. It is the ultimate means of self-analysis, presenting an opportunity for self-reflection, self-expression and self-promotion; a bid for eternity. Liz Rideal, Self-portraits (London, NPG: 2005)
a self-portrait is a representation of an artist, drawn, painted, or sculpted by the artist. Although self-portraits have been made by artists since the earliest times, it is not until the Early Renaissance in the mid 1400s that artists can be frequently identified depicting themselves as either the main subject, or as important characters in their work. With better and cheaper mirrors, and the advent of the panel portrait, many painters, sculptors and printmakers tried some form of self-portraiture. The Portrait of a Man by Jan van Eyck of 1433 is the earliest known panel self-portrait. He painted a separate portrait of his wife, and he belonged to the social group that had begun to commission portraits, already more common among wealthy Netherlanders than south of the Alps. The genre is venerable, but not until the Renaissance, with increased wealth and interest in the individual as a subject, did it become truly popular.
3 comments:
This is a fabulous SP blog site!
Most of this site is photos of a bunch of narcissistic idiots. They certainly don't look like self-portraits for the purpose of self expression. Merely attention-seeking immature children, whatever their age may be.
As somebody who does a lot of self-portraits I'd have to disagree with "Anonymous". I understand how somebody who chooses themselves as the subject of his/her art might appear narcissistic, but I assure you that it's rarely the case. Usually it's a way to express you inner thoughts. It has nothing to do with attention seeking. Those artists who actually seek attention usually employ the usage of bodily fluids in combination with some religious imagery in their art. It's a much easier way of getting attention rather than exposing your soul to the public.
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