University of Maryland Self Portraiture Discussion

The creation of self-portraits has its roots in the Renaissance period when the social status of the artist began to shift.  Artists often used a self-portrait to elevate their rank (think of Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez) or emphasize their identity as a painter (any number of self-portraits by women such as Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun).  But today, artists use themselves as subjects in their work for a variety of reasons.  

Consider the evolution of the self-portrait by looking at examples by the following artists:

Vincent Van Gogh

Cindy Sherman

• Robert Mapplethorpe

Renee Cox

• Shirin Neshat
• Respond to HOW and WHY the artist has either chosen themselves as the subject or utilized the social meaning of their identity as the subject.  What is the difference?  
• Could you please help me to respond this classmate?His answer: Vincent Van Gogh used his self-portraits as a medium for expressing his feelings and battles with mental disease. In order to communicate stress and turmoil, he frequently painted himself with a thoughtful or disturbed face while using strong, expressive brushstrokes. Many of Van Gogh’s self-portraits feature vibrant hues of blue or yellow that increase the emotional effect of the piece. Van Gogh’s use of color was also important. Van Gogh’s approach differs from that of the artists of the Renaissance in that he was less focused on augmenting his social standing or stressing his identity as a painter. Instead, he used self-portraits as a way to discover and convey who he really was. Thus, compared to previous times, Van Gogh’s self-portraits were more intimate and introspective, showing a change in how artists viewed self-portraiture as a means of artistic expression. This bond is established by a common comprehension of the human experience rather than on societal position or identification as a painter. Over the course of his life, he produced over 40 self-portraits, frequently using his own visage to depict his inner turmoil and battle with mental disease.