Research Point - Self Portraits

Graham Sutherland,  (1903-80)

When I was visiting London earlier in the summer I called into the National Portrait Gallery, where I spotted this self portrait in oil on canvas. Graham Sutherland was a big landscape painter and a war artist, but he also did quite a number of portraits of famous people such as Somerset Maughan and Winston Churchill. As I was scanning each portrait along the walls in the gallery,  this one immediately caught my attention. 

Painted in 1977, during his final years, the expression looks contented, yet I can see a hint of dark underlying sternness on the right side of the face and the intense concentration is evident. The other side of the face is lit up with a lovely reflective quality and light appears to be shimmering out from around the head. I also notice a curious thing about the face - sometimes I find it looks serious and at other times grinning, rather like Leonardo's famous Mona Lisa.  All brushwork looks free and loose, especially in the background. 

I think the domination of the colour and shade of green also help to exude an air of quiet calmness. In effect, every part of the painting seems to be bathed in the green atmosphere. 

Vincent Van Gogh

This was painted shortly after the death of his beloved brother Theo – his last self portrait. The eyes appear to say it all, a look of utter devastation and despair and the background of swirling lines seem to pulsate with the turmoil probably going through his mind.

Rembrandt van Rijn

Rembrandt is thought to have depicted himself in paintings, etchings and drawings a record number of times. 

Another final self portrait - this has misty atmosphere around the face, through it he stares out with a piercing yet contemplating look. Amongst the washes applied on his clothes, I think great tonal depth has been achieved, furthered by fine hatching, although it still retains a soft and flowing appearance. 

Self Portrait 1956

Ink on paper 12.5 x 7.5 cm

William Utermohlen

Through a series of self portraits William Utermohlen recorded a very poignant portrayal of his decline into dementia. Archives http://www.nowpublic.com/health/william-utermohlen-s-self-portraits-chronicling-descent-alzheimer-s#ixzz1YJZ7LRAA

This is a self portrait of him as a young man. Minimal lines very adequately describe the ruffled hair . The vertical hatched lines on the face appear to be rapidly drawn and decisive, echoing his determined expression peering out under the spectacles.

David Hockney

This is another drawing where the treatment is sparse but very effective and there is no doubt about it being a true likeness! A piercing stare again - I guess this is only natural when studying intently one's own reflection. 

Kathe Kollwitz

The last great German expressionist and outstanding artist of social protest.

The portrait emits a darkly sad expression enhanced by deep shadow in the lower half of the face, particularly around the eyes, and the supporting hand on the forehead. The dense mesh of linear hatching spirals outwards from the centre around the eyes, is carried through onto the hand, and becomes gradually bolder and looser towards the outer areas. This dark, quite disturbing mood, emitted (as with so much of her work) is perhaps a reflection of the misery and hardship she witnessed and endured during her lifetime.

Bruno Schulz

Right is a self portrait by Bruno Schulz. He was a well known writer, said to be comparable 
to Franz Kafka, and an artist up to 1942, when he was shot in Poland by the Nazis. I wasn't able to find when he did this portrait. It has a very direct appearance, reflected in the type of marks used, while deep and esoteric.
There is also a serious and wary look about the eyes - hardly suprising.