Today is #MuseumSelfie day, where museum-goers are encouraged to have fun by taking selfies in museums.
But museums have been home to another kind of selfie for many years: the self-portrait.
We’ve selected seven self-portrait paintings to get a sense of the ways in which artists have portrayed themselves through time.
From Albrecht Dürer, an artist aware of his public image and reputation, to Paula Modersohn-Becker, the first female artist to paint a nude self-portrait, these artists show thoughts and feelings about themselves, their art and the societies in which they live and work.
Self-Portrait with Fur-Trimmed Robe, Albrecht Dürer, Alte Pinakothek, Munich, Public Domain Marked
Self-portrait, Rembrandt van Rijn, Rijksmuseum, Public Domain Marked
Portrait of a Man (Selfportrait), Jan Kupecký, Slovak National Gallery, Public Domain Marked
Selfportrait, Mimmi Zetterström, Nationalmuseum, Sweden, Public Domain Marked
Self-portrait with soft hat, Julius Paulsen, Trapholt Museum for Moderne Kunst, CC BY
Self-portrait 6 wedding anniversary, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum, Bremen CC BY-NC-SA
Self-Portrait, Vilho Lampi, Finnish National Gallery, CC BY
I have only recently become aware of Paula Modersohn-Becker. She is quite a puzzling figure. However, I draw great inspiration from her art.
Thank your for your post.