4 most popular self-portraits in history and the stories behind them
The art of self-portraiture has existed through times of antiquity, but it was in the Early Renaissance during the middle of 15th century that artists took up self-depiction more ubiquitously and with more intent in their art. However, self-portraits have consistently found their place in all art movements that have emerged over time, transcending technique and style. Here are some of the most popular self-portraits in history, and the fascinating stories behind them.
Leonardo da Vinci’s “Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk”
Da Vinci created this self-portrait in the year 1512. Historians believe that this is a rare self-portrait, probably the only one in existence of the world-renowned master artist. It is estimated that Da Vinci must have been around 60 years of age when he created this. As the name suggests, it was drawn with red chalk on paper. Today, the Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk is placed in the Royal Library in the Italian city of Turin.
Frida Kahlo’s “Autorrerato con mono”
Frida Kahlo, the popular Mexican feminist artist, is widely known for her numerous self-portraits. One of the most striking ones out of them is the “Autorrerato con mono” which is translated to “Self-portrait with monkey” in English. This is a vibrant oil on masonite painting which depicts Kahlo with a deep gaze having a monkey sitting around her neck. This painting finds its residence at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York.
Vincent Van Gogh’s “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear”
Dutch painter Van Gogh has a history of creating self-portraits. However, the Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear is one of his most popular ones, and can be found in London’s Courtauld Gallery today. It is believed that Van Gogh painted this portrait in the year 1889, following the infamous incident of him cutting off his own ear as a result of his miserable situation. This self-portrait is a prominent portrayal of his bandaged ear.
Pablo Picasso’s “Self-portrait”
Picasso is hailed to be the master of self-portraits, and has a distinctive style in the same. He has painted a vast array of self-portraits which acted as representations of himself in a given period of time. The most intriguing thing about this is that the paintings gradually became more obscure over time, and lost the excellence with which he painted initially. This reflected his mental illness and ageing. The most prominent self-portrait of his was simply titled, “Self-portrait” and was painted in 1907. This painting can be found in the Narodni Gallery in Prague.