Discussion

This week's painting assignment is for you to paint your self-portrait while wearing a hoodie. The hoodie is not absolutely necessary if you don't have one or would prefer not to depict yourself wearing one, but please do your self-portrait.

This page features a number of classical self-portraits by famous artists that may help to inspire you. All but one are by Western artists. Self-portraits of them wearing hoodies are scarce, however, so you'll need to view these with a little imagination. This picture of a hoodie may help.

For most of the following self-portrait images--none with hoodies--I will only state the name of the artist with the birth and death dates. Some may have minimal comments. I recommend that you look the artists up on the web. 

Jan van Eyck (1390-1441)

The title is Portrait of a Man in a Red Turban (1433), and though not absolutely certain, it is strongly believed to be his self-portrait.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

Again, this 1510 Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk is not absolutely known to be of Leo, but most scholars think it is.

Albrecht Durer (1471-1528)

This is the boldest and last of Durer's self-portraits (1500). Several aspects depict him as a Christ-like figure.

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669)

Rembrandt produced over 100 renderings of himself, at least 40 of which were full self-portraits like this 1660 painting, done when he was at the height of his powers.

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653)

Gentileschi was one of the first women accepted into the Florentine Academy of Design. This work is titled Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (1638-1639).

Louise Elisabeth Vigee le Brun (1755-1842)

Le Brun is thought to be the most stylish painter in France during the Revolution. She was the favorite artist of Marie Antionette. Her Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat was painted in 1782.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) 

Japanese self-portraits before the 20th century are very scarce. Hokusai is the only earlier Japanese artist I was able to find who had painted his own image. His Self-portrait as a Fisherman was painted in 1835.

Gustave Courbet (1819-1877)

One of the most famous self-portraits of all time, Courbet's Le Désespéré (“The Desperate Man”) was painted in 1845. 

Claude Monet (1840-1926)

Claude Monet needs little introduction. This is Monet's Self-Portrait with a Beret (1886).

Paul Cézanne (1839-1906)

Known for his landscapes, Cézanne painted many portraits, too. This self-portrait was painted in the 1878 to 1880 timeframe.

Paul Gauguin (1848-1903)

Filled with religious imagery, scholars are uncertain what Gauguin was trying to communicate if anything. In any case, Gauguin's Self-Portrait with Halo and Snake (1889) is the best known of his over 40 self-portraits. 

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)

Van Gogh was another prolific self-portraitist with more than 30 within a 4-year time span to his credit. More than one of them features his infamous self-mutilation, like this Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889).

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

Picasso had so many painting styles that it is hard to pin him down to any one. This 1907 self-portrait of his is one of the last he did until a few pencil drawings late in life.

Norman Percevel Rockwell (1894–1978) 

Rockwell's art was frequently disparaged as being too popular. Some thought of him as a mere illustrator. Yet his depictions of an idealized America were loved beyond the dreams of more "serious" artists. His work was often filled with humor, too, as shown in this famous multiple self-portrait (1960).