The Self Portrait has been around for a very long time.

It is more than likely that the images of hunters seen on cave walls or rocks represent their creative artist going about his day-job.

What are the first things that kids draw?

House, Mummy, Daddy, Sibling and ME.

No, not me Roger, but Me, Me.

The Self Portrait is “different things to different folk.”

Stand by to be amazed.

Artists have found so many ways of depicting humans through experimentation and trial and error and have produced both the ugly and the beautiful but in the case of the Self Portrait there is another element, a personal experience.

Exhibitionists, Teachers, Experimenters, Cash-strapped, The Uninspired, The Wish to Shock……….. just a few reasons that artists find themselves portraying themselves. Sometimes they hide in a painting to make a point or just to make up the numbers.

I hope that their reasons also include my reason for producing this forum? The wish to share my enjoyment.

I have spent time researching this subject and I hope that this proves to be a worthwhile experience for everyone, art lover and newbie alike.

I shall present my artists in NO PARTICULAR ORDER.

I shall not love every painting but I will respect its creator. I will TRY to encourage discussion and hope that we ALL learn something.

It’s truly a wonderful world of SELF PORTRAITS.

WELCOME.

I make no apology for bringing a well-know artist and Self Portrait. Who?

No less than Rembrandt van Rijn.

We can learn a lot about the personality of this master of painting just by looking at his art, since Rembrandt’s self-portraits have become a sort of visual autobiography for his life and career.

As a young man he showed his developing love of detail and his mastery of his light and shadow.

As a young man Rembrandt was already experimenting and where better to practice than with mirror image.

What do you find the most striking thing about his work here?

What was he thinking?

PLEASE INVITE EVERYONE TO VISIT THIS FORUM.

There will be something for everyone AND some surprises.

http://community.adlandpro.com/forums/post/2655830/The-wonderful-world-of-the-Self-Portrait/1.aspx?