Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun

Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat, 1782

CONTEXT CLUES:

Le Brun chose to paint herself in a very natural, relaxed pose in a time period where portraits were usually very formal, stiff, and strict. Most French women during this time period wore corsets, wigs, and powder on their face, but she has none of that in this painting. She's holding her paint palette and brushes to show her profession as an artist, which was also unusual for a women at the time.

More self-portraits by Le Brun:

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Self Portrait Gallery

Look through the gallery and choose 3 self-portraits that you personally find interesting. Click on the photos for more information about them.

Pablo Picasso

LEFT PHOTO: Pablo Picasso, Self Portrait , 1896 (age 15) RIGHT PHOTO: Pablo Picasso, Self Portrait Facing Death, 1972 (age 90) CONTEXT CLUES: Picasso was taught to draw from a very young age and was allowed to start taking classes at an art college at the age of only 13. However, at age 16 he dropped out of art school to pursue his own ideas about art. His paintings became increasingly unique and abstract. Self Portrait Facing Death was painted less than a year before Picasso died. He drew himself with huge, wide eyes facing forward and a blue-green skin color. How do you think he was feeling when he made this artwork? More self-portraits by Picasso, in the order they were made:

Jean Michel Basquiat

LEFT PHOTO: Jean Michel Basquiat, Self Portrait as a Heel , 1982 RIGHT PHOTO: Jean Michel Basquiat, Self Portrait as a Heel (Part 2) , 1982 CONTEXT CLUES: A "heel" is slang for a person who is self-centered or untrustworthy; someone with no sense of loyalty or honor. Why do you think Basquiat would choose to describe himself this way? Jean-Michel Basquiat is considered to be one of the most influential Black American artists of the late twentieth century. Basquiat did not have an easy life - his mother had severe depression and went to live in a mental hospital when he was 13 and a disagreement with his father left Basquiat homeless for a while as a teenager. As an artist, his focus was on equality in the society, racial segregation and livelihood, especially in America. Source: Jean-Michel Basquiat Biography More self-portraits by Basquiat:

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