self-portraits
Self-portraits: After painting for a few years, I made it a point to paint a self-portrait every year. It should always bear the title “State of the Art” and the corresponding year.
A few have been sold, and many have been lost. Below is a selection of examples of different techniques.
Self-portraits in recent years
Self-portraits pre-2020
Shops: FriedrichZettl.com and at saatchi gallery instagram
Self-Portrait: A Reflection of the Inner Self
Self-portraits have been a popular subject in art for centuries. First of all they offer a unique insight into the artist’s mind and soul, revealing their innermost thoughts and emotions. In this article, we will explore the history of self-portraiture in Asian and Chinese art and how it has evolved over time.
The History of Self-Portraiture in Asian and Chinese Art
Self-portraiture has a long history in Asian and Chinese art. One of the earliest examples of self-portraiture in China is Ren Xiong’s self-portrait from the Qing Dynasty. In this painting, Ren Xiong shows himself frontally, looking outward with a penetrating gaze in an almost confrontational manner. His hands are clasped above his waist, and the thick vertical lines of his pants rise upwards to meet at his hands, giving the impression that they rest on a sword.
His robe slips off his shoulders, and we see that he is young and muscular. The naturalism of his upper torso and face imbue the painting with a physicality, as if he is ready to fight. In fact his hands, and especially his feet, are larger proportionally, and subsequently his robes seem enormous. The distortion of proportions adds to the monumentality of his stature. Ren’s self-portrait is breathtaking and bold; it suggests that the artist saw himself as living in the eye of the storm—and taking a modern and self-aware stance1.
The Significance of Self-Portraiture
Self-portraiture is a powerful tool for self-expression. It allows artists to explore their own identity and to communicate their emotions and experiences to others. Self-portraits unvail a wide range of emotions, from joy and happiness to sadness and despair. Furtnermore they can explore the human condition and to comment on social and political issues.
In brief, self-portraiture is an important part of Asian and Chinese fine arts and art history. For centuries artists explored their own identity and to communicate their emotions and experiences to others. Self-portraits offer a unique insight into the artist’s mind and soul, revealing their innermost thoughts and emotions.