This week we are explore the art concept of the self portrait. A self portrait is a representation of an artist made by the artist. Although self-portraits have been made since the earliest times, it is not until the mid-15th century that artists can be frequently identified depicting themselves as either the main subject, or as important characters in their work.
Self portraits remain a typical genre of art making for artists today, and the majority of artists I know have done them in one way or another at some point in their artistic lives.Â
On Monday, you each were tasked with making a self portrait with a mirror from direct observation using charcoal in your sketchbook. Today we are going to make another self portrait, but explore the idea of self portraits more conceptually.Â
so....Why do artists create self-portraits?
Making a self portrait is a bold move and requires an artist to examine themselves as the subject, placing their own story in the context of art history. While artists represent themselves for many reasons, here are a few of the biggest reasons why one might choose to make a self portrait:
1.)Â Artists may use self-portraiture to locate themselves in their geography and culture.
2.)Â Self-definition as an artist is a common theme, with artists showing themselves making their art, or defining themselves as being successful as artists through the self portraits.
3.)Â Self-portrature can be a powerful tool to redefine and refute stereotypes or artist myths and more actively define ones own identity and tell oneâs own story.
For todayâs drawing, you are each charged to make a self portrait drawing to tell your own story. Instead of the assignment being defined by technique, material or process like last class session, the definition of this assignment is the why behind it. You can choose to tell your story in whatever drawing material, or technique you want. You can make something from a photo reference or even your own imagination. What do you want others to know about you and your story? Use your self portrait drawing to share something about you or your story with our drawing class community.Â
Today you will do this self portrait drawing independently during our scheduled class session. Bring your completed self portrait to class on Monday with your zoom in/zoom out homework drawings to be critiqued during class.
Claude Cahun, âWhat do you want from me?â photographic print, 1928.
Jan van Eyck, âPortrait of a Man in a Turbanâ oil on canvas, 1433. (Sometimes this painting is cited as the first self portrait, though there is some disagreement about it.)
Frida Kahlo, âSelf Portrait on the Border Line between Mexico and the United Statesâ, oil on canvas, 1932.
Henri Rousseau, âMyself: Portrait-Landscapeâ, oil on canvas, 1890
Leonora Carrington, âSelf Portraitâ, oil on canvas, 1937-1938
Artemisia Gentileschi, âSelf Portrait as the Allegory of Paintingâ, oil on canvas, 1638.
Gillian Wearing, âSelf Portrait as my sister Jane Wearingâ, photographic print, 2003.Â
From the Tate caption for this self portrait:
âWearingâs photographs explore how public and private identities of ordinary people are self-fashioned and documented. In her portraits and self-portraits she blurs the line between reality and fiction. For her series Album 2003, Wearing reconstructed old family snapshots using silicone masks fabricated with the help of experts from Madame Tussauds. By putting a version of someone elseâs face on hers she is metaphorically âseizingâ their identity. Here Wearing wears a dress her sister wore in the 1980s. The only bits of Wearing that can be seen are her eyes and teeth.â
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