Famous portraits from the history of art

The Art of the Self-Portrait: Famous Paintings Featuring People

As well as portraits of other people, self-portraits are fascinating works of art. They offer considerable scope for interpretation and explore the intriguing interplay between self-perception and how one is perceived by others. How does the artist see themselves? Which emotions and physical attributes does the artist choose to emphasise in their own depiction? Viewers can learn a great deal about the artist’s inner emotional world. And for the artist too, self-portraiture is an incredibly challenging and instructive process. One comes a step closer to oneself whilst simultaneously being able to view oneself as through the eyes of another.

The self-portrait also allows the artist to control their own appearance and create iconic images. In this way, they decide – at least in part – how they wish to be remembered and go down in history after their death. At the same time, a picture always shows only a specific snapshot at a specific moment in time. It seems impossible to capture the essence of a whole person in a portrait, doesn’t it?

Historical portraits through the ages

Portraits – particularly famous and classical portraits – have had a decisive influence on the history of art. They are more than mere depictions of a person; they reflect personal destinies, historical circumstances and deep emotions. The depiction of a person at the centre of a work of art evokes strong feelings within us and fosters a sense of connection with the person portrayed. The Mona Lisa, The Laughing Cavalier, the portrait of Dora Maar, Whistler’s Mother, Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits, the famous portrait of Dr Gachet or *Woman in Gold* – all speak to us or provoke a sense of rejection within us; in any case, we feel an emotional response.

Famous portraits often serve to convey power, status or certain ideals. Rulers had themselves depicted as untouchable, god-like figures, such as Louis XIV in all his splendour or Napoleon in a heroic pose. But bourgeois portraits, too, such as the works of Vermeer or van Eyck, reflect social change and the burgeoning self-confidence of new social classes. As well as self-representation, many famous portraits contain subtle symbols that allude to virtues, character traits or political messages. They also served as a form of commemorative culture, preserving a person’s image for posterity. In the modern era, the portrait evolved further – from realistic depictions to abstract or psychologically charged interpretations, as seen in the work of Picasso or Andy Warhol.

The Arnolfini Wedding
Portrait

Jan van Eyck’s *The Arnolfini Wedding* from 1434 is one of the most famous portraits of Early Netherlandish painting and is striking for its attention to detail and symbolic depth. The painting depicts the Arnolfini wedding between the wealthy merchant Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini and his wife in a luxurious interior. It is a double portrait, meaning that two people are depicted. The fine fabrics, the magnificent chandelier and the elaborately carved bed bear witness to the couple’s wealth, whilst numerous details carry symbolic meanings. The curved mirror in the background reflects not only the couple but also two further figures – possibly witnesses to the marriage. Above this is the famous signature ‘Johannes de Eyck fuit hic’ (‘Jan van Eyck was here’), suggesting that the painter himself acted as a witness. The posture of the figures and the way the couple’s hands are clasped together are also often interpreted as a marriage vow. The dog, a symbol of fidelity, and the fruit on the windowsill, representing fertility, further deepen the meaning of this famous portrait. Today, the painting hangs in the National Gallery in London.

Napoleon in all his splendour

In the Spotlight – Famous Portrait Paintings of Women

Some of the most famous portraits are paintings of women. Women often symbolised traditional ideals of beauty, such as grace, symmetry or expressiveness. Furthermore, throughout many historical periods, women were regarded as muses or symbols of values such as love, purity or fertility, which renowned artists depicted. Today, the roles of men and women are viewed in a more nuanced way, yet these timeless, famous portraits of women endure, serving as a testament to their era and still moving us today.

Famous, more famous, the Mona Lisa

Arguably the most famous portrait in art history and one of the most renowned portraits of a woman is Leonardo da Vinci’s *Mona Lisa*. Painted between 1503 and 1506, it is now on display at the Louvre in Paris. The famous portrait depicts a young woman with a mysterious smile. She is thought to be Lisa Gherardini, though the woman’s identity remains a matter of debate. Painted in oil on a poplar panel, the famous painting captivates the viewer above all through the eyes: her gaze seems to follow the viewer as they move back and forth in front of the painting. The composition of the painting forms a subtle triangle from the woman’s crossed arms to her head. This was a popular pose at the time the famous portrait was painted, but da Vinci succeeded in subtly directing the viewer’s gaze directly towards the Mona Lisa’s face. It was only after the painting was stolen in 1911 that it achieved worldwide fame. Today, it is the most visited work of art in the world and holds a Guinness World Record with an insured value of 100 million dollars.

Girl with a Pearl Earring

Also known as the ‘Mona Lisa of the North’, *Girl with a Pearl Earring* was painted by the famous artist Johannes Vermeer in 1665. It is the artist’s most famous portrait. The identity of the woman depicted has not been conclusively established. It is generally believed to be Maria Vermeer, the painter’s eldest daughter. On display at the Mauritshuis in The Hague, the painting is not actually a true portrait, but a ‘tronie’. This term refers to a style of painting typical of the Netherlands, depicting a study of an unidentified, anonymous person dressed in luxurious garments against a plain background, with the subject itself becoming the focus of the work. The girl captivates the viewer with her steady, direct gaze. Vermeer skilfully captures the contrast between light and dark through a light blue turban and yellow garment set against a dark background. This deliberately draws the focus to the key element of the painting: the sparkling pearl earring. With its impressively realistic depiction, the artwork captivates the viewer with its mysterious and emotional aura.

Frida Kahlo and her famous self-portraits

Famous female painters also created portraits. Frida Kahlo immortalised herself and her life in numerous famous self-portraits. Her distinctive eyebrows and sombre gaze have become a famous motif, featuring in at least 55 original works. In her self-portraits, she processed the tragedies and pain she experienced throughout her life. The Mexican artist contracted polio as a child, suffered serious injuries in a bus accident, subsequently underwent around 40 operations and remained physically impaired for the rest of her life. Her marriage to the renowned painter Diego Rivera, who was 20 years her senior, was also marked by emotional ups and downs: there were extramarital affairs, divorce and remarriage. She endured miscarriages as well as problems with alcohol and drugs. Yet Kahlo maintained a positive outlook on life. In her diary she wrote: “Nothing is more important in life than laughter. Laughter means strength, self-forgetfulness and light-heartedness. Tragedies, on the other hand, are something utterly silly.”

One of her famous portraits is the self-portrait with a thorn necklace and a hummingbird, which shows her with a black cat on her right shoulder and a monkey on her left, set against a background of leaves. This well-known portrait contains numerous symbols. Around Kahlo’s neck is a chain of thorns, which leaves traces of blood and from which a hummingbird hangs. The chain of thorns symbolises pain and suffering and is reminiscent of Christ’s crown of thorns, lending the painter the aura of a martyr. In contrast to this is the monkey, interpreted as a symbol of the devil, and butterflies in her hair, which represent resurrection. The lifeless hummingbird, hanging with its wings spread, echoes the shape of her unibrow and moustache – perhaps a deliberate feminist statement. The focus, however, is on Kahlo’s expressive face. Her eyes are cast slightly downwards and do not meet the viewer’s gaze directly, creating a sad, pensive effect. Frida Kahlo painted this portrait in 1940 following her brief divorce from Rivera and her separation from her lover. In the same year, she remarried Rivera, and her former lover bought the painting from her to support her financially. The circumstances surrounding the creation of this painting illustrate Kahlo’s turbulent life quite clearly. It is thanks to the artist’s talent that we are able to empathise with her emotions when viewing her famous portraits today.

Gustav Klimt and *The Woman in Gold*

*The Woman in Gold* is considered one of Gustav Klimt’s most famous portraits. The 1907 painting is particularly notable for its use of silver and gold in addition to conventional paint. It depicts Adele Bloch-Bauer, a wealthy Jewish woman from Vienna, and was commissioned by her husband, the banker and sugar producer Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer. The female figure, with her fair skin and dark hair, stands out clearly against the shimmering golden background and looks directly at the viewer. The lady’s dress is only subtly distinguished by geometric shapes and its colours almost blend into the rest of the background. The woman’s hands are modestly clasped together, creating an overall impression of approachability despite the sumptuous materials used. Adele’s wish that her portrait be donated to the Austrian State Gallery after her death was not honoured by her family, and it remained in private hands instead. In 1941, the portrait was confiscated by the Nazis. It was not until 2006 that it was returned to the Bloch-Bauer family, who sold it shortly afterwards for 135 million dollars. Today, it is on display at the Neue Galerie in New York City.

And today? Discover portraits by SKM artists

Even today, portraits play a central role in art, as they not only capture a person’s outward appearance but also reflect deeper emotional, psychological and social aspects. In an increasingly digitalised world, where selfies and AI-generated images are ubiquitous, hand-drawn and human-created portraits take on a particularly important role. They allow for a conscious and unhurried engagement with a person, an emotion and a situation. In the online gallery of Studierenden Kunstmarkt, you can discover portraits by young artists in a dedicated section. For artists in training in particular, the portrait is a central genre that presents both technical and creative challenges. It allows them to deepen their skills in areas such as anatomy, lighting, colour and expression, whilst at the same time developing individual styles. Furthermore, portraits encourage an exploration of identity, diversity and social issues from the artist’s individual perspective. They create a personal connection between the artwork and the viewer, which makes them attractive to collectors, museums and galleries.

Discover colourful, powerful portraits by Sarah Hischemöller, figures with strong lines by Martina Schepperle, provocative and pop-inspired portraits by Leutrim Morina, or gently emotional works by Julia von Solemacher.