Even More Crazy Self-Portraits
A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post entitled The Craziest Self-Portraits of all Time, in which I described some of the more unusual self-portraits I have encountered during my studies of art. I had a lot of fun with that post, so, today, I want to share a few more crazy self-portraits. Let’s dive in!
Pumpkinhead Self Portrait by Jamie Wyeth - Jamie Wyeth is a member of the famous Wyeth family, and is the son and grandson respectively of celebrated painters Andrew Wyeth and N.C. Wyeth. Although he’s probably not as well known as his relatives, he’s certainly a famous and talented painter in his own right. One of his most famous and strangest paintings is his Pumpkinhead Self Portrait. In this painting, Wyeth removes himself from his own self portrait, a somewhat self deprecating gesture that invites the viewer to examine the work as a painting, not as an image of its creator. Alternatively, it might just be that the Wyeth family like Halloween. According to my research, “the Wyeths delighted in costume, in infusing the fantastic into the everyday, in striking an undercurrent of mystery, discomfort, and sometimes peculiar humor through their work.”
Self-Portrait with Magic Scene by Pieter van Laer - Pieter van Laer’s Self-Portrait with Magic Scene is one of the strangest self-portraits ever created. The painting depicts the artist in the guise of a sorcerer, surrounded by alchemical instruments. His mouth hangs open in a scream of fear, while the scarlet claws of a demon or devil reach out towards him from outside of the frame. Presumably, the sorcerer has summoned the demon— accidentally or on purpose— and now rejects his actions. According to my research, this piece is classed as a canon painting, a sort of subcategory of art in which music stands in for virtue or knowledge. It may be easy to overlook, but there is a piece of sheet music in the foreground of Self-Portrait with Magic Scene. However, instead of standing in for virtue, in this case, the music is a reminder of the sorcerer’s hubris and folly—a dark twist on a canon painting. According to my research, the writing on the canon reads “Il diavolo non burla, non burla,” which translates to “the devil doesn’t jest, doesn’t jest.” It’s quite a dark song.
Self-Portrait Facing Death by Pablo Picasso - Pablo Picasso is quite possibly the most famous painter of all time. He created tens of thousands of pieces of artwork throughout his career, but it is one of his last pieces of art that I want to talk about today. He created his Self-Portrait, Facing Death in 1972 at the age of 90. He was dead scarcely a year later. Picasso was never afraid to take critical looks at himself. In this self-portrait, we see Picasso examining himself as his body broke down and suffered the vicissitudes of age. This painting examines the idea of mortality; here, we see Picasso staring down the dark path of death. His eyes are wide and staring, and his face is deeply lined. His skin is blue, perhaps a reference to impending death. It takes a hard look at death in both a physical and spiritual sense.
Self-Portrait with Orthopedic Brace by Leonora Carrington - Leonora Carrington was one of the leading artists of the Surrealist movement. Carrington made her permanent home in Mexico after fleeing Europe during World War II, and she spent the rest of her life painting there. Like many painters of her age, Carrington was interested in expressing spiritual and psychological truth. The painting depicts the silhouette of a woman covered in a white sheet and a straw hat. Behind this figure, a dark and rocky landscape is spread out across the canvas. A tiny, hunched figure in black is visible to the right, alongside a black bird; a red cloud that hovers above the mountains holds the shape of the same hunched figure. This figure represents Carrington herself; yet, it is also an anonymous figure, unidentifiable and, therefore, universal. The painting challenges the definition of self-portrait. If a piece of art bears no resemblance to the painter, is it still a self-portrait? There is no real answer to that question, but it poses important questions about the nature of identity.
Hand with Reflecting Sphere by M. C. Escher - Just about everyone knows the art of M. C. Escher. The Dutch artist is famous for his highly geometric woodcuts and lithographs. Today, he is known for his tessellations and his never ending staircase. However, his self-portrait is one of his most famous pieces. The lithograph, titled Hand with Reflecting Sphere, depicts a hand holding a metallic ball. The ball reflects a man and a room, the artist sitting in his office. While self-portraits containing reflections have a long history in Western art. Here, we see the artist encountering himself. It is a classic approach to self-portraiture, but this piece is certainly the most famous example of this style.
Pumpkinhead Self Portrait by Jamie Wyeth - Jamie Wyeth is a member of the famous Wyeth family, and is the son and grandson respectively of celebrated painters Andrew Wyeth and N.C. Wyeth. Although he’s probably not as well known as his relatives, he’s certainly a famous and talented painter in his own right. One of his most famous and strangest paintings is his Pumpkinhead Self Portrait. In this painting, Wyeth removes himself from his own self portrait, a somewhat self deprecating gesture that invites the viewer to examine the work as a painting, not as an image of its creator. Alternatively, it might just be that the Wyeth family like Halloween. According to my research, “the Wyeths delighted in costume, in infusing the fantastic into the everyday, in striking an undercurrent of mystery, discomfort, and sometimes peculiar humor through their work.”
 |
Pumpkinhead Self Portrait Source: Wiki Art |
Self-Portrait with Magic Scene by Pieter van Laer - Pieter van Laer’s Self-Portrait with Magic Scene is one of the strangest self-portraits ever created. The painting depicts the artist in the guise of a sorcerer, surrounded by alchemical instruments. His mouth hangs open in a scream of fear, while the scarlet claws of a demon or devil reach out towards him from outside of the frame. Presumably, the sorcerer has summoned the demon— accidentally or on purpose— and now rejects his actions. According to my research, this piece is classed as a canon painting, a sort of subcategory of art in which music stands in for virtue or knowledge. It may be easy to overlook, but there is a piece of sheet music in the foreground of Self-Portrait with Magic Scene. However, instead of standing in for virtue, in this case, the music is a reminder of the sorcerer’s hubris and folly—a dark twist on a canon painting. According to my research, the writing on the canon reads “Il diavolo non burla, non burla,” which translates to “the devil doesn’t jest, doesn’t jest.” It’s quite a dark song.
 |
Self-Portrait with Magic Scene Source: Google Arts & Culture |
Self-Portrait Facing Death by Pablo Picasso - Pablo Picasso is quite possibly the most famous painter of all time. He created tens of thousands of pieces of artwork throughout his career, but it is one of his last pieces of art that I want to talk about today. He created his Self-Portrait, Facing Death in 1972 at the age of 90. He was dead scarcely a year later. Picasso was never afraid to take critical looks at himself. In this self-portrait, we see Picasso examining himself as his body broke down and suffered the vicissitudes of age. This painting examines the idea of mortality; here, we see Picasso staring down the dark path of death. His eyes are wide and staring, and his face is deeply lined. His skin is blue, perhaps a reference to impending death. It takes a hard look at death in both a physical and spiritual sense.
 |
| Self-Portrait Facing Death Source: Vermont Drawing Studio |
Self-Portrait with Orthopedic Brace by Leonora Carrington - Leonora Carrington was one of the leading artists of the Surrealist movement. Carrington made her permanent home in Mexico after fleeing Europe during World War II, and she spent the rest of her life painting there. Like many painters of her age, Carrington was interested in expressing spiritual and psychological truth. The painting depicts the silhouette of a woman covered in a white sheet and a straw hat. Behind this figure, a dark and rocky landscape is spread out across the canvas. A tiny, hunched figure in black is visible to the right, alongside a black bird; a red cloud that hovers above the mountains holds the shape of the same hunched figure. This figure represents Carrington herself; yet, it is also an anonymous figure, unidentifiable and, therefore, universal. The painting challenges the definition of self-portrait. If a piece of art bears no resemblance to the painter, is it still a self-portrait? There is no real answer to that question, but it poses important questions about the nature of identity.
 |
Self-Portrait with Orthopedic Brace Source: Artnet |
Hand with Reflecting Sphere by M. C. Escher - Just about everyone knows the art of M. C. Escher. The Dutch artist is famous for his highly geometric woodcuts and lithographs. Today, he is known for his tessellations and his never ending staircase. However, his self-portrait is one of his most famous pieces. The lithograph, titled Hand with Reflecting Sphere, depicts a hand holding a metallic ball. The ball reflects a man and a room, the artist sitting in his office. While self-portraits containing reflections have a long history in Western art. Here, we see the artist encountering himself. It is a classic approach to self-portraiture, but this piece is certainly the most famous example of this style.
 |
| Hand with Reflecting Sphere Source: Wikimedia Commons |
Comments
Post a Comment