Artists' Self Portraits

The subjects of art vary from artist to artist. They can range from a painting of a busy rehearsal in a cramped dance studio to a photograph of a calm desert in the morning light. The choice of subjects depends upon what kind of story the artist wants to tell and show their audience.

drawing by Keith Haring

No matter what subjects artists choose, the one subject that all share is that of themselves, the self-portrait. Self-portraits are not just a reflection of what they look like but also of how the artist interprets themselves and the world around them. It is perhaps the most personal story that the artist can tell and makes the self-portrait one of art's most important subjects.

Your task

What you need to find out

1. The name of the artist
2. Their nationality
3. When was the portrait done or when did the artist lived
4. What kind of art does it represent (i.e. Impressionism, Pop Art)
5. What medium is it in (i.e. acrylic paint, photograph, pencil)
6. Where is the self-portrait located
7. Write a short desription of the self-portrait (What does the artist look like? What is the setting of the piece? How big is it ? What is the artist doing?)

Where to go

• The Great Artists Page
• The National Museum of American Art
• The Leonardo da Vinci Museum
• The Rembrandt Page
• The Andy Warhol Museum
• The Frida Kahlo Page