SelfPortrait

Self-portrait is a representation of an artist created by the artist themselves. It may be a painting, drawing, sculpture, photograph, or other media in which the subject is the maker. Self-portraits are used to study appearance and technique and to explore identity, mood, or personal narrative. The practice spans cultures and periods, with particularly well documented development in Western art from the Renaissance onward.

In Europe, the form became a deliberate artistic project in the early modern period. Albrecht Dürer's 1498 self-portrait is widely cited as a landmark for its frontal pose and detailed rendering. In the 17th century Rembrandt expanded the idea with intimate, psychologically revealing likenesses. The 19th and early 20th centuries saw self-portraiture by artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Frida Kahlo, who used the format to confront physical vulnerability and inner life.

With photography, self-portraiture broadened in the 19th century and later evolved into contemporary works that foreground identity and performance. Artists such as Cindy Sherman have used self-portraiture as a vehicle for personas and social critique. In popular culture, the term selfie denotes a casual self-portrait taken with a mobile device, reflecting new norms of representation and sharing.

Scholars view self-portraiture as a means to assert authorship, explore self-image, and address issues of gender, ethnicity, and power. The genre continues to adapt to digital technologies, with debates about authenticity, censorship, and the relationship between artist, subject, and audience.