Self Portraits

Self-portrait - the art of self-expression - which extends back to antiquity, is a mirror revealing an artist’s mind of only what he wants to reveal, depicting themselves as the main subject, proving the resilience of these artworks. Transcending technique and style, these artworks became a popular medium amongst many artists in every major art movement, from the inspired Italian Renaissance to the Post-Modern and Contemporary period, to create some of the most famous self-portrait paintings that are testaments to the genre’s versatility. The curated collection of the most famous self-portraits by the world's most well-known artists featured on Bidsquare fine art auctions explores the curious custom of self-portraiture through visual art. 

Self-portrait's appeal rests on its ability to represent oneself visually, allowing some artists to accurately portray themselves with pleasure, oftentimes, creating repetitive self-portraits as they age in order to depict the ever-changing self. It was not until the early renaissance in the 15th century that artists started painting their own likenesses, reproducing their own image in various different and innovative ways for different motives. 

Famous Self Portrait Artists

Existing as one of the most famous portrait paintings of Northern Renaissance art, Portrait of a Man in a Turban created in 1433 by Jan van Eyck is considered the earliest known self-portrait on a panel. While the identity of the man in the painting is not absolutely certain, it can be assumed that the artist in the picture is Jan van Eyck. A prolific self-portraitist, the German painter Albrecht Dürer created more than twelve self-portraits in various techniques, with detailed images of his face and torso, which became its own genre.

A online auction by Bidsquare offers live auctioneers an eclectic look at the work of famous self-portrait artists - spanning Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt, Picasso, Jan van Eyck, Albrecht Dürer, Frida Kahlo, Norman Rockwell, Claude Monet, and much more - the leading figures who have made self-portraiture a central theme of their work. 

Quick Facts about Self Portrait

• It Takes Months to Paint a Perfect Portrait
• The oil painting ‘Mona Lisa’ has the ‘LV’ initials of Leonardo da Vinci, the creator, written on the left eye of the lady!