Famous self portrait artist

Famous Self-Portraits Show Self-Portraiture Trend Across History

Throughout the course of art history, self-portraiture has remained a tried and true practice among leading artists. Transcending technique and style, self-portrayals are prevalent in every major movement, from the inspired Italian Renaissance to the Post-Modern and Contemporary periods. To illustrate the prevalence of these depictions, we have compiled a collection of the most famous self-portraits by the world's most well-known artists.

Through this comprehensive selection of self-portraits, we explore the curious custom of representing one's self through visual art. By offering an eclectic look at the work of well-known figures—spanning Rembrandt, Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Norman Rockwell, Claude Monet, and Vincent van Gogh—the enduring popularity of the self-portrait phenomenon becomes strikingly clear. And, while it may not seem as if age-old artists like Michelangelo and Raphael have much in common with modern masters like Andy Warhol and Yayoi Kusama, their like-minded interest in self-portraiture ultimately unites them—both as visual artists and as human beings.

See our selection of 28 well-known artists' most famous self-portraits below.

Albrecht Dürer

Albrecht Dürer, “Self-Portrait at 28,” oil on panel, 1500 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

German printmaker Albrecht Dürer is renowned for his highly detailed woodcuts, etchings, and engravings, but in fact, the Northern Renaissance artist also created several important self-portraits throughout his life. Completed in the mid-15th century, Self-Portrait at 28 is significant because Dürer portrays himself in a way that's similar to depictions of Christ, indicating to the viewer that perhaps his talents are God-given.

The painting now belongs to the Alte Pinakothek Museum in Munich, Germany.

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci, “Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk,” red chalk on paper, c. 1512 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

Created circa 1512, Leonardo da Vinci‘s Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk is widely believed to be a rare self-portrait of the master artist. As Leonardo was born in 1452, he would have been nearly 60 years old when he completed this work on paper.

The piece now permanently resides in Turin's Royal Library.

Rembrandt van Rijn

Rembrandt, “Self-portrait,” oil on canvas, 1660 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain {PD-US-expired})

While there is certainly no shortage of Rembrandt self-portraits (over 90 are known), Self-Portrait perfectly captures the Dutch Golden Age painter's signature use of light, textured brushstrokes, and a somber color palette.

Rendered in 1660, the oil painting is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s permanent collection.

Gustave Courbet

Gustave Courbet, “The Desperate Man,” oil on canvas, c. 1843 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain {PD-US-expired})

Titled The Desperate Man, this piece by realist painter Gustave Courbet remains his most well-known self-portrait. Completed in 1845, The Desperate Man combines elements of Romanticism—a style that was prominent until the middle of the 19th century—and Realism, a movement that would eventually be pioneered by Courbet.

Today, this iconic self-portrayal is part of a private collection.

Claude Monet

Claude Monet, “Self-portrait in Beret,” oil on canvas, 1886 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain {PD-US-expired})

Featuring the Impressionist artist‘s signature beret and beard, this self-portrait of Claude Monet was painted in 1886. Self–Portrait with a Beret showcases Monet's distinctively blurred brushstrokes, compositional use of unpainted canvas, and expertly-rendered balance between light and dark.

This oil painting is housed in a private collection.

Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin, “Self-Portrait with Halo,” oil on panel, 1889 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain {PD-US-expired})

Self-Portrait with Halo and Snake by Paul Gauguin presents the French Post-Impressionist painter's characteristically colorful palette. Of over 40 self-portrayals, this 1889 piece remains Gauguin's most well-known due to its avant-garde composition and underlying religious themes, including apples and a snake.

This oil-on-wood painting can be found in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh, “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear,” oil on canvas, 1889 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain {PD-US-expired})

Like many forefathers of the modern art movement, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh dabbled in self-portraiture on numerous occasions. Though his collection of such portrayals features many iconic works, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear is perhaps his most famous. Painted shortly after the infamous incident in which the struggling artist cut off his own ear in 1889, this painting prominently features his bandaged wound.

Today, you can gaze upon the well-known work in London's Courtauld Gallery.

Paul Cézanne

Paul Cézanne, “Self-Portrait,” oil on canvas, 1878-1880 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

Though he is predominantly renowned for his mountainous landscapes and still lifes that play with perspective, French Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne also often painted portraits. Sometimes, as in the case of Self-Portrait, he even depicted himself. Created from 1878 through 1880, this piece features the artist's distinctively painterly brushstrokes and unique use of color.

Now, this painting resides in the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.

Edvard Munch

Edvard Munch, “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear,” lithograph, 1895 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

Norwegian painter and printmaker Edward Munch is known for his dark and dreary Expressionist depictions—and Self-Portrait With Skeleton Arm (1895) is no exception. This peculiar piece was initially rendered in lithographic chalk and ink, and has been reprinted several times since its conception. In later reproductions, Munch even opted to black both out the skeletal arm and his signature.

Today, authentic prints of this piece can be found in numerous collections, including the British Museum.

Pablo Picasso

While Pablo Picasso‘s constantly changing style is evident in his entire oeuvre, it is perhaps most obvious when comparing his myriad self-portraits. Painted, drawn, and sculpted over the course of his career, his self-portrayals directly reflect the Spanish artist's evolution. Of all of these depictions, his Self-Portrait from 1907 most aptly captures his transition from Primitivism to Cubism, 2 of his most well-known periods.

This painting is currently housed by Prague's Narodni Gallery.

Frida Kahlo

Beloved Mexican artist Frida Kahlo has no shortage of self-portraits. Still, Self–Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird from 1940 remains one of her most prized portrayals. The oil painting features several symbols and concepts prevalent throughout her portfolio, including foliage, wildlife, and suffering.

This iconic work can be found in the Nickolas Muray Collection at the University of Texas.

Salvador Dali

Unsurprisingly, Spanish artist and Surrealist master Salvador Dalí took an unconventional approach to portraying himself with Soft Self-Portrait With Grilled Bacon. Painted in 1941, the piece depicts a single piece of bacon beside an organic, structureless shape adorned with a human face and propped up with crutches. Given its ambiguous appearance, one may wonder how such a face represents the artist. However, look closely and you'll spot Dalí's iconic, upturned mustache.

Today, this surreal self-portrait calls Catalonia's Dalí Theatre-Museum its home.

Marcel Duchamp

Like much of Marcel Duchamp‘s work, his Self-Portrait in Profile (1957) conveys the French artist's avant-garde approach to creating using a paper medium. Just one in a series of 137 pieces, this silhouetted depiction is experimentally composed of torn paper pasted on velvet-covered paperboard. While one may assume that the text written against the white backdrop is the artist's signature, it actually reads Marcel déchiravit, or “Marcel tore this quickly.”

This piece now belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Norman Rockwell

American artist and illustrator Norman Rockwell is known for his delightful collection of Saturday Evening Post covers. On February 13, 1960—an impressive 44 years after Rockwell joined the magazine—the Saturday Evening Post ran a biographical piece on the artist. For the issue's cover, Rockwell was commissioned to depict himself, and, thus, he created this clever and comical Triple Self-Portrait.

The original oil painting of this cover can be found in the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Andy Warhol

A key figure in the Pop Art movement, American artist Andy Warhol boasts numerous well-known, popular pieces. Among his most famous works of art are his multi-colored, repeated silkscreen portraits. In addition to celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, Warhol depicted himself in this style in his 1966 Self-Portrait.

This portrait belongs to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Chuck Close

American photorealist Chuck Close gained prominence with his large-scale photographic portraits. In his aptly-titled Big Self-Portrait from 1968, the artist presents a realistically-rendered acrylic painting of himself. Clad in thick-framed glasses and with a lit cigarette in his mouth, it is clear that the artist had a particular persona in mind when posing for the piece. “There’s no question,” Close states, “I had some attitude about the way I wanted to be perceived.”

Today, this piece is housed by the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

Cindy Sherman

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Master of disguise Cindy Sherman is celebrated for her self-portrait photography in which she assumes different characters. In Untitled #96, a photograph from the American artist's 1981 series Centerfold, Sherman is depicted dressed as a teenage girl.

In 2011, a print of this piece was purchased at auction for a record $3. 89 million. At the time, it was the most expensive photograph ever sold, making Untitled #96 one of her most well-known works.

Jean-Michel Basquiat

American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat skillfully paired a street art style with Neo-Expressionist know-how to create a rich oeuvre of socially-conscious art. In Self-Portrait from 1982, Basquiat employs acrylic paint and crayon to create a composition that combines naive, figurative representations with complete abstraction.

Like much of the artist's work, this portrait is now housed in a private collection.

Keith Haring

American artist and social activist Keith Haring is celebrated for his contributions to New York City's iconic street culture. Haring put a Pop Art spin on graffiti, as evident in his untitled self-portrait from 1985. Conveying a cartoon-like aesthetic and playful style, this portrait embodies Haring's graphic approach to iconography.

This piece is now part of a private collection.

Lucian Freud

Reflection (1985), a self-portrayal by British portrait painter Lucian Freud, conveys the artist's raw and realism-inspired style. Featuring thickly applied paint and a purely figurative focus, the oil painting captures Freud's distinctive and recognizable approach to portraiture.

Reflection belongs to a private collection.

Gerhard Richter

The comprehensive portfolio of German artist Gerhard Richter is esteemed for its wide range of styles. In addition to abstract works and “overpainted” photographs, he also produces portraits that, though painted, almost appear to be blurred photos. A key example of a well-known work from this genre is Selbstportrait (1996), a self-portrait that vaguely presents the artist as he looks toward the ground.

This piece is part of the Flowerman Collection.

Louise Bourgeois

Louise Bourgeois, Self Portrait, 2007 #womensart pic.twitter.com/ndswTu0vKf

— #WOMENSART (@womensart1) June 22, 2018

French-American artist Louise Bourgeois is predominantly recognized as a sculptor and installation artist. However, in addition to her 3-dimensional creations, the artist also produced paintings, drawings, and prints. Bourgeois was not associated with any particular artistic movement or group, though many of her masterpieces—like this curious Self-Portrait (2007) in which the artist portrays herself as a cat—suggest Surrealist influences.

This feline-themed self-portrait now resides in a private collection.

Yayoi Kusama

Japanese creative Yayoi Kusama is one of the most sought-after contemporary artists. While her interactive installations often merit her the most praise, she is also a skilled painter, as apparent in her series of self-portraits. Rendered in acrylic paint, this portrayal from 2010 captures Kusama's characteristically bright color palette, penchant for patterns, and playful style.

This piece is housed in a private collection.

In addition to more traditional portraiture, many artists throughout history have opted to instead include themselves in unexpected compositions. See some of these sneaky self-portraits below.

Jan van Eyck

Jan van Eyck, “The Arnolfini Portrait,” oil on panel, 1434 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

In his most well-known painting, The Arnolfini Portrait (1434), Early Netherlandish painter Jan van Eyck presents wealthy Italian merchant Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini and his first wife, Costanza Trenta. On the surface, the piece appears to be a simple double portrait. However, a closer look reveals that, in the convex mirror in the center of the composition, van Eyck's discreet reflection is visible.

This painting can be found in London's National Gallery.

Raphael

Raphael, “The School of Athens,” fresco, 1509-1511 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

The School of Athens, a famous fresco by Italian Renaissance painter Raphael, is often celebrated for its depiction of each and every great ancient Greek philosopher from antiquity. In addition to this impressive collection of figures, Raphael also opted to include himself in the lower-lefthand corner of the large-scale composition. He can be seen staring straight at the viewer as he stands next to Ptolemy.

This fresco is located in the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.

Michelangelo

Michelangelo, “The Last Judgment,” fresco, 1536-1541 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain {PD-US-expired})

In The Last Judgment, a fresco found in the Sistine Chapel, Italian master Michelangelo fills a frantic composition with numerous biblical characters and saints accompanied by their attributes. One noteworthy figure is St. Bartholomew, who—as in many Christian depictions—is seen holding his own skin. In a fascinating twist, the face portrayed on the flesh is widely believed to be a self-portrait of the artist himself!

The Last Judgment is in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

Diego Velázquez

Diego Velázquez, “Las Meninas,” oil on canvas, 1656-7 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain {PD-US-expired})

Diego Velázquez, detail of “Las Meninas,” oil on canvas, 1656-7 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain {PD-US-expired})

Las Meninas (“The Ladies-in-Waiting”), a 1656 painting by Spanish Golden Age artist Diego Velázquez, portrays Madrid's royal court. Velázquez has cleverly placed himself behind the Infanta Margarita and her handmaids, all dressed in elaborate costumes. He is shown standing at his easel with his palette and brushes in hand.

Las Meninas is part of the Museo Nacional del Prado‘s permanent collection.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, “At the Moulin Rouge,” oil on canvas, 1892-5 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, detail of “At the Moulin Rouge,” oil on canvas, 1892-5 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

In Au Moulin Rouge (“At the Moulin Rouge”) French Belle Époque painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec offers a glimpse of nightlife during turn-of-the-century Paris. As a frequent visitor of the city's nightclubs, it is fitting that Toulouse-Lautrec inserted himself into the background of this piece. He can be seen walking with Gabriel Tapié de Céleyran, his cousin and doctor.

This painting can be found at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is famous for their self-portraits?

Rembrandt, Vincent van Gogh, and three artists famous for their series of self-portraits.

This article has been edited and updated.

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Self-Portraits: 7 Artists Who Immortalized Themselves

A tried and true practice, self-portraiture has remained popular throughout history. Type in any famous artist’s name like Picasso or Emily Carr into Google and add ‘self-portrait’ to your search… You’re bound to get anywhere between one to a hundred self portraits. To highlight the popularity of the original selfie, let’s take a look at some of our favourite artists who immortalized themselves through their art.

Vincent Van Gogh

The words ‘Van Gogh’ and ‘self-portrait’ are basically synonymous. The Dutch artist painted upwards of 30 portraits of himself within the span of three years. His collection of self-portraits places him among one of the most prolific self-portraitists of all time.

Pablo Picasso

Much like Van Gogh, Picasso had a fascination with self-portraiture as well. Between the ages of 15 and 90, the Spanish artist painted 30 portraits of himself. Due to the fact that his portraits span across decades, you can see how he developed as an artist, constantly changing his aesthetic approach throughout his lifetime.

Emily Carr

In stark contrast with Picasso, Emily Carr painted very few self-portraits. In December of 1940 she actually said she hated painting portraits. Which doesn’t come as a huge surprise considering Carr drew inspiration from her heritage, painting mainly wild and beautiful Canadian landscapes.

Frida Kahlo

Let’s move on to the Queen of self-portraits; Frida Kahlo. Of her 143 paintings, 55 of them were self-portraits, knocking Picasso and Van Gogh out of the park. Kahlo said, “I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best. ”

Rembrandt Van Rijn

We’ve met the Queen, now let’s take a look at the King; Rembrandt. The Golden Age painter takes the lead with an astonishingly high number of self-portraits; 100 works, including 40 paintings, 31 etchings, and seven drawings.

Milos Reindl

Our featured artist, Milos Reindl, has a whole collection of self-portraits that are titled Autoportraits. His paintings are often expressionist in style and consist mostly of classic head-shots. But at times they can be self-reflexive, looking at himself from an outside perspective, depicting himself as an artist within his art.

Cindy Sherman

Straying away from paintings, let’s get into a new medium. American photographer Cindy Sherman is a master of disguise in her self-portraits. Her work showcases herself in many contexts and as various imagined characters. You can see her Untitled Film Stills collection on the MoMa website.

Written by Jarvis

Canadian Modernism: Emily Carr and Milos Reindl

Emily Carr and Milos Reindl were two Canadian artists of modernism. Emily Carr was born in Canada in 1871, while Milos Reindl was Canadian by nationality but born in Czechoslovakia. Both Emily Carr and Milos Reindl used a Modernist style of painting, with Emily Carr using post-impressionist techniques as well. The two artists were quite different from one another stylistically, yet both had very strong Canadian identities that can be seen in their artwork.

These two artists brought different styles to the Canadian art scene. Emily Carr was known for her Canadian landscapes. Her paintings often showed the Canadian wilderness as it truly is: vast, untamed, and beautiful.

Reindl also incorporated Canadian landscapes, but his style was more abstract and modern. He often referred to his life in Canada as the New World in his paintings. His paintings did not depict Canadian landscapes realistically, but rather used them to create a new and unique style of art that was his own.

It is evident that, while their styles were quite radically different, the underlying theme and sentiment remains. Both artists pay homage to the country they call home, in a way that feels authentic to them.

Today, Canadian landscapes are still very relevant in Canadian art. They have become staples of Canadian culture and identity that continue to be represented by Canadian artists presently. Emily Carr’s paintings stand out for their unique representation of the Canadian wilderness while Reindl’s work embodies a new modern style inspired by his time living in Canada.

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Modernist Canadian artists, Emily Carr and Milos Reindl were born in different centuries but share an appreciation for natural beauty that is captured within their paintings. Both are known internationally as great painters who challenged traditional perspectives on art with bold colors and new styles to create meaningful pieces celebrating life on this planet

19 self-portraits of great artists | Masters Fair Magazine

Self-portrait is a genre of all kinds of fine arts, a look at one's own "I" from outside. In this publication, I invite you to familiarize yourself with self-portraits of famous artists of different centuries. Artists have been creating self-portraits since the days of ancient Egypt, using a mirror in their work. Almost all the great masters painted themselves, and some even specialized in this genre.

Portrait of a man in a red turban, Jan Van Eyck, 1433.

This is a controversial painting by the Flemish early Renaissance painter Jan van Eyck. Most art historians are inclined to believe that this is a self-portrait. People in the portraits of that time usually looked to the side, and the depicted man sits as if looking at himself in the mirror standing in front of him. Another argument in favor of this is the words written in pseudo Greek letters on the top of the original picture frame. This inscription (“Als Ich Can”), translated from Flemish, means: “As I can.” nine0003

Diego Rodríguez Velázquez Las Meninas

Diego Velazquez is a Spanish artist, the largest representative of the Madrid school during the golden age of Spanish painting, the court painter of King Philip IV
The artist depicted himself in the process of creating a painting. This painting is unique in that it combines a genre scene, a group portrait, and a self-portrait.

Self-portrait with his wife Saskia, Rembrandt van Rijn / Rembrandt van Rijn, 1635

Rembrandt is the greatest representative of the golden age of Dutch painting. In the painting “Self-portrait with his wife Saskia”, Rembrandt depicted himself as a groom dressed in a smart suit, he holds his wife Saskia on his knees, also dressed in an old dress bought by the artist from an antique dealer. The canvas is filled with light and joy, fun, tenderness and love.

Self-portrait with a greeting, Edgar Degas / Edgar Degas, 1855-1856

Edgar Degas - French painter, one of the representatives of the impressionist movement, he is often called the "painter of dancers." nine0003

Degas portrayed himself as a very important person: a pose, a look of a successful person, a formal suit and a top hat in his hands.

Self-portrait with bandaged ear
Author: Vincent van Gogh.
Year of creation: 1889.

Vincent van Gogh painted more than 30 self-portraits during his life, “Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear” is one of the most recognizable. There are many versions of this painting. The most common is this: Van Gogh quarreled with his friend, the artist Paul Gauguin, and in a fit of mental distress cut off part of his ear...

Self-portrait Les Misérables, 1888 by Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin was a French painter, ceramic sculptor and graphic artist. Along with Cezanne and Van Gogh, he was the largest representative of post-impressionism. Gauguin's life formed the basis of Somerset Maugham's novel The Moon and the Penny.

Les Misérables occupies a special place among Paul Gauguin's self-portraits. The artist creates this self-portrait as a gift to Vincent van Gogh. The canvas was created in a difficult time for the artist, he really felt “outcast”: an outcast by society, abandoned by his wife, having lost the opportunity to communicate with the children whom he loves very much. ..

Self-portrait with a palette, Pablo Picasso / Pablo Picasso, 1906

Full name - Pablo Diego Jose Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuseno Maria de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santisima Trinidad Martir Patricio Ruiz and Picasso - Spanish and French artist, sculptor, graphic artist, theater artist, ceramist and designer.

"Self Portrait with Palette" Picasso's first significant self-portrait since 1901. By this time, Picasso occupies a significant place among the artistic avant-garde of Paris. According to art historians, the self-portrait speaks of self-confidence - a massive figure knocked down, the right hand clenched into a fist. The imperturbable face is drawn in a harsh primitivist style. nine0003

The painting is in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Soft self-portrait with fried bacon, Salvador Dali / Salvador Dali, 1941

Salvador Dali - Spanish painter, graphic artist, sculptor, director, writer. One of the most famous representatives of surrealism. The painting depicts an amorphous likeness of a human head, the facial features “float” under their own weight, numerous props create a kind of openwork structure. On the pedestal we see a piece of bacon (food and people are one of Dali's favorite tricks). The only detail that conveys a portrait resemblance is the famous twisted mustache...

Self-portrait with Chinese lanterns, Egon Schiele / Egon Schiele, 1912

Egon Schiele, “Nude self-portrait, grimace”, 1910

Egon Schiele - an Austrian self-portrait of the main genre of nude painter, a representative of expressionism He wrote over a hundred of them. The artist creates different images of himself, tries on “masks”, plays roles, makes faces; in some self-portraits, he depicts himself naked. Schiele attached great importance to expressive gestures, postures and facial expressions. nine0003

Marc Chagall "Walk". 1917-1918

Usually extremely serious in his painting, Marc Chagall wrote a delightful manifesto of his own happiness, filled with allegories and love. "Walk" is a self-portrait with his wife Bella. His beloved soars in the sky and looks to be dragged into the flight and Chagall, who is standing on the ground precariously, as if touching her only with the toes of his shoes. Chagall has a tit in his other hand - he is happy, he has both a tit in his hands and a crane in the sky.

Michelangelo. Fragment of the fresco "The Last Judgment", 1537-1541

This fragment depicts Saint Bartholomew, in his right hand he holds a knife, with which, according to legend, he was skinned alive, in his left he holds the skin itself, including the warped torment face. This "skin" is Michelangelo's self-portrait. Contemporaries noted the striking similarity of the grimace frozen in flour with the stubborn and melancholy face of the artist.

Red self-portrait, Warhol 1986.

Andy Warhol is considered the greatest artist of the pop art movement. This famous work belongs to a series of self-portraits he painted in recent years. There are five portrait color options: green, blue, purple, yellow, and red.

Turin self-portrait, Leonardo da Vinci / Leonardo da Vinci, 1512

Turin self-portrait is the only portrait of Leonardo da Vinci that has survived to this day. The painting depicts an old man with long hair and a beard who is looking at the viewer. It is worth noting that there are several scholars and historians who do not consider the painting to be a self-portrait. This is mainly due to the fact that the figure looks a little older than Leonardo, who at the time was 60 years old. However, it is widely believed that da Vinci deliberately aged himself. nine0003

Self-portrait with a sunflower, Anthony van Dyck. 1641.

Anthony van Dyck master of portrait painting. This work is the subject of numerous studies and discussions. They argue especially fiercely about the meaning of the golden chain, which probably went to the artist when he was knighted. Beyond that, the hidden symbolism of the sunflower remains a mystery.

Frida Kahlo The Two Fridas, 1939

The life story of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo became widely known after the release of the film Frida starring Salma Hayek. Kahlo painted mostly self-portraits and explained it simply: “I paint myself because I spend a lot of time alone and because I am the topic that I know best.” Frida Kahlo does not smile in any self-portrait: a serious, even mournful face, fused thick eyebrows, a slightly noticeable mustache above tightly compressed lips. The ideas of her paintings are encrypted in the details, the background, the figures that appear next to Frida. The symbolism of Kahlo is based on national traditions and is closely connected with Indian mythology before the Spanish period. nine0003

Self-portrait with a necklace of thorns, Frida Kahlo / Frida Kahlo, 1940

During her life, Frida painted 55 self-portraits, among which the most famous is “Self-portrait with a necklace of thorns and hummingbirds”. Frida completed this portrait in 1940 exactly one year after a painful break in relations with her lover, the Mexican artist Diego Rivera. In the painting, the artist depicted herself with a panther and a monkey. The choice of these animals is due, among other things, to the fact that during their family life, Frida and Diego kept monkeys in the house as pets. Evil tongues said that this is how they compensate for the absence of children. In the center of attention is an ornament made of lifeless blackthorn. Withered branches wrap around Frida's neck, causing her suffering, piercing her skin with thorns. In reality, Frida steadfastly endured the divorce process, so she chose such a symbol to convey inner emotions and experiences. nine0003

Caravaggio. David with the head of Goliath. 1610.

In the face of the defeated Goliath, Caravaggio himself is quite recognizable, in his normal form, appearing to us from other self-portraits. Here, the artist disfigures his own features, distorting his face in a grimace of hatred and suffering, perpetuated by death.

Son of man, Albrecht Durer / Albrecht Durer, 1500

The artist created a self-portrait in 1500, depicting himself in full face, which at that time was only permissible in images of Jesus Christ. On the self-portrait there is an inscription that reads "I, Albrecht Dürer, a Nuremberger, painted myself in such eternal colors at the age of 28." Some experts and critics consider this self-portrait a symbol of pride, the artist compares himself with God. nine0003

This painting was used in Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula as a portrait of Dracula.

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Self-portraits of famous artists. You definitely saw these pictures

Rembrandt. Self portrait with Saskia
Albrecht Durer. self-portrait
Da Vinci. Turin self-portrait
Warhol. Red self-portrait
Frida Kahlo. Self-portrait with necklace of thorns

Self portrait is one of the most difficult genres in painting, because there is nothing harder than trying to transfer your image to the canvas. Who, if not artists, should know about its inconstancy and versatility? Nevertheless, many great masters have repeatedly paid tribute to this direction of painting. Moreover, they did this even when they were already quite wealthy people.

Rembrandt. Self portrait with Saskia

Rembrandt is the "champion" of the world of painting in creating self-portraits. They say that today there are more than three hundred paintings by the artist, on which he depicted his immodest person - alone, in the company of friends or his beloved wife. nine0003

The master's most famous masterpiece is "Self-portrait with Saskia on her knees". This image is well known to everyone, including people who are not at all interested in art. The picture was painted shortly after the artist's wedding - it is literally permeated with light and love, sparkling like bubbles in champagne. This is the brightest, most cheerful self-portrait of Rembrandt.

Albrecht Dürer. Self portrait

Remember Bram Stoker's Dracula, released in 1992? Do you remember the portrait of the young prince hanging in the castle? This picture is a slightly altered masterpiece by Albrecht Dürer, in which the master depicted himself in clothes with fur trim.

There is an irony in the situation with movie props. The fact is that, creating a masterpiece, Dürer used the techniques usually used in religious painting. The full-face “mask” face, a direct open look, a hand at the chest as if in a blessing gesture - Jesus was usually painted like this. nine0003

Da Vinci. Turin self-portrait

The only self-portrait of da Vinci that has come down to us is a drawing made by the master after 1512. The portrait, made by sanguine, is very similar in style to other sketches of the author: strokes from left to right, thin lines - this is how da Vinci painted.

The figure (by the way, now it is not exhibited due to dilapidation) shows an old man of very advanced years, although at that time the master was about 60 years old. Perhaps da Vinci deliberately added age to himself, or maybe the sketch is a fake, as some art historians say. nine0003

By the way, fans of historical mysteries and Dan Brown's work tend to consider the famous "La Gioconda" a kind of self-portrait of a genius. To prove the hypothesis, it is customary to cite some general details of the Turin drawing and the image of a rich Florentine woman. Of course, this theory does not stand up to scrutiny.

Warhol. Red self-portrait

One of Andy Warhol's last paintings is the monumental "Red Self-Portrait" of about 3 square meters. In the work, the artist used his favorite scarlet color. nine0003

From the picture, the painter seems to be looking into the face of death - he looks vulnerable and even frightened. This is not the only painting by Warhol in the heat of self-portraiture - there were others. But "Red" is probably his most famous such work. By the way, she, with all her tragedy and emotional nakedness, turned out to be prophetic - a year after the completion of the picture, the artist died of cardiac arrest after a rather simple medical operation.

nine0151 Frida Kahlo. Self-portrait with necklace of thorns

In the artist's work, the genre of self-portrait was a favorite - in this she is similar to Rembrandt. Through her own images, she spoke about the events of her life, her suffering - the fate of Frida Kahlo was not simple, and her health remained fragile throughout all the years of her life.

One of the artist's most famous images is Self-Portrait with a Hummingbird and a Thorn Necklace. As on many other canvases, she is surrounded by animals and plants, symbolizing vitality, personifying victory over pain, from which the artist suffered all her life. But there are other, hidden meanings in this canvas. nine0003

The masterpiece was painted in 1940, after a break with two of the most important men in the artist's life. Probably the canvas is the result of the artist's rethinking of relationships with these men - Frida was a master of poignant and capacious images. Kahlo is depicted in a snow-white dress, on her neck is a collar made of thorn bushes and a dead bird on it, digging into the flesh of a woman with spikes.

This work by Kahlo often causes a stir among visitors to exhibitions.