Now, we understand the saying “Every artist paints himself” in a different way than it was understood some generations ago. Now, a self-portrait belongs to art like any other painting. Though earlier, things were different especially if we talk about female artists.
You know that females didn`t have the same rights as men earlier. Well, even now, the situation is different in different countries. Thus, a self-portrait used to be not just a painting for a female artist but a way to express herself and demand her place in art history and the world in general. It was an opportunity to move away from the common objectification of a woman whose only way to be painted was to be painted by a man.
Sofonisba Anguissola, a Pioneer in Self-Portraits
Like all the women of that time, Sofonisba didn’t have a chance to take life-drawing classes. Therefore, she found her own solution – she concentrated on self-portraits. She used to paint herself as if she were caught in the middle of her work. It was quite uncommon for portrait painting techniques of that time. It also shows clearly that she used to fight for her place as one of the famous artists, not only as a woman.
Artemisia Gentileschi and a New Way of Portrait Painting
Artemisia Gentileschi is one more woman that has left her traits in art history. Her self-portrait “Allegory of Painting” is one of the most known masterpieces nowadays. In her oil painting, Artemisia managed to show how demanding the painting art can be and how she mastered it.
She asserted her distinctive talents even though at that time, the world preferred to ignore them. This is one of the self-portraits that only a woman could paint.
Adélaïde Labille-Guiard and Her “Self-Portrait with Two Tulips”
After the Renaissance, the art of custom portrait started flourishing in the 18th century in France. One of the most famous female artists of that time is Adélaïde Labille-Guiard. In her Self-Portrait with Two Tulips, she shows the everyday life of a painter: a box with paints, canvas ready for the future works. There is one more detail worth attention: she is not alone in her custom portrait. There are two female students with her.
From one side, the artist contradicts the rules set up for her social surrounding. As a representative of the bourgeoisie, she challenged all the stereotypes connected with her class and gender. She needs to seek public attention to ensure commissions for her paintings. Thus, statements that this portrait was painted to attract attention, are reasonable. From the other side, she shows her solidarity with all the women who want to be an artist. That’s why she painted two students accompanying her. Do you want to appear as the main character of this custom portrait? The painting is absolutely amazing, and some galleries will willingly make a reproduction for you.
Marie Bashkirtseff Continues the Tradition
One more portrait is known for touching the topic of female rights and the perception of a female by the world. In her self-portrait, she actually painted not only herself but a group of female painters. The model is a young boy.
The 20th Century Shifted the Values
Everything has changed drastically with the arrival of the 20th century. Values have shifted, and artists started introducing sexuality and pregnancy in oil painting. The first artist that painted herself nude is Paula Modersohn-Becker. She painted herself pregnant while she wasn`t. Who knows maybe she believed it to be true for her creativity. She had just divorced her husband and started her career as a painter. This custom portrait recalls the paintings with Tahitian women by Paul Gauguin, but in her painting, she is looking at the viewer. With this detail, she de-objectifies the woman.
Frida Kahlo, a New Way of Self-Portraying
Frida Kahlo made one more change in her custom portrait Arbol de la Esperanza. It is a deeply symbolic self-portrait where she appears in a double image. In one, she is nude but deprived of any sensuality. She expresses her physical suffering after the accident. Partly, she is covered with hospital sheets.
In another part of the painting, she is wearing a beautiful national dress of her native country. So, while being immobile and hurt, she shows that she is still deeply feminine and strong. Frida Kahlo is far from any idealization of a female body. She shows it in all its fragility.
Self-Portrait Nowadays
While we still believe that a self-portrait can have the same deep meanings nowadays, it is not completely correct. In most cases, a custom portrait is a way of some kind of self-expression of a person and a way of interaction with the painter and the world. One thing is for sure: one paints a self-portrait in one case only: there is something to tell the world.