Conversation

My favourite paintings, No.11

Catharina van Hemessen. Self Portrait (1548)

This is the first (known) self portrait of an artist at an easel, and is likely a political statement by Catharina van Hemessen, asserting her right to be seen as an artist in C16th, when such employment was very much not regarded as suitable for a woman. Looking out at us across the centuries she requires our respect, not least for establshing the default artists' pose for a self-portrait.

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