From then… they always drew what they saw in a mirror, until now. They went further and reached into their past, present and future. That is metamorphic self portrait. From then until now, things have gotten more diverse and more open than before. Whereas they would have only have a reflected vision of them selves. Of course, the first known portraits were known to be from Egypt and Greek. Yet, the first known done self portrait was based upon 1450’s Jean Fouquet.
Why the need for a self portrait? A self-portrait, as a projection of self, may have began with Fouquet's hand held portrait but artists like Albrecht Dürer and Parmigianino are known for the detailed exploration of their own images. They paint themselves as they wish to be seen. Other portrait artists who also used the self-portrait as a projection of self did so to demonstrate wealth, social status, talent or religious beliefs. Artists gazed into their mirrors and attempted to grasp their identities. They sought to portray their image, whether it showed a clear representation of their features, a walk through their childhood or an outpouring of emotions. Some self-portraits show only what the artist wants us to see, some chronicle the history of the artist, others reveal personal secrets and a sense of isolation. Whichever method is employed each artist took a long literal and figurative look at him/herself. Each portrait is an exploration of the self.
Self-portraits, we have found, can be carefully staged to show the audience only what the artist wishes to project, or deeply revealing, inadvertently displaying feelings of anguish and pain. Self-portraits have been used to test new techniques, make a signature mark, launch into self-study, remember the past, and as a way to release emotion. Whichever way artists choose to construct their images, they are each forced to study their own personas both physically and emotionally.
