Five Hundred Self-Portraits

by Phaidon Press, Julian Bell (Introduction)

Presents a collection of self-portraits, in chronological order, from ancient Egypt to the present day.

Genres: Art, Art History, Photography, Nonfiction

548 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2000

About the author

Phaidon Press is a global publisher of books on art, architecture, design, fashion, photography, and popular culture, as well as cookbooks, children's books, and travel books. The company is based in London and New York City, with additional offices in Paris and Berlin. -wikipedia

Reviews

[Mai M Ibrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

احلى حاجه ف الكتاب ان كل صورة ف صفحة والكلام صغير علشان نركز ف البورتريه سواء كان رسم او تصوير او نحت
هصور الكتاب كله وانزله ع قناة عن الفن ع اليوتيوب لو حد مهتم
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بصور الكتب اللي بستعيرها من المكتبة العامة ع انستجرام
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[Riaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very nice book but could have been better with a little more contextual information.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent teaching tool for use with any age! I have a renewed faith in many "popular" artists because of this book, and I think it's simply because I now know them to be more fearless, more honest. Self-depiction is so, so important! I especially love the idea that many of these artists likely didn't create these portraits for the public, but rather as ways to see themselves more clearly. Compelling!

[Avis Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would get a higher rating from me if it had some explanatory text, but it still is nonetheless interesting.

[Solla · Rating 4 out of 5]

not much to read on this one really, a forward of a half dozen pages. There is no commentary on the self-portraits. There is one Egyptian, but most are medieval to the present. Alice Neel, Frida Kahlo, Paula Modersohn-Becker, and Kathe Kollwitz are included. Some have series, such as Rembrandt. It is a more personal view into a variety of artists.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this Phaidon book, we are given 500 self portraits, just as the title proclaims. The pictures are stark and have little description other than the basic info of who painted it and where it is located. It's not a bad book, but I wish there was a little more insight into the paintings.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is exactly as titled. I'd've given five stars if only a bit more info had been given on each self-portrait. But it is a quality book.

[Lizanne Whitlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice volume of self-portraits with adequate information to launch a search for further information if so wanted.

[Linny · Rating 4 out of 5]

compact compedium of art from the first self portrait to the present, great history

[Madelaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of artistic expression throughout many years. I'd like to learn more about these artists and their other works. 

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wants authority it does not possess and has too many inconsistencies for such an un-wordy book.
The introduction speaks of the artist's relationship with death and how artists bravely document themselves honestly. This is contradicted with the inclusion of Iorenz Strauch's Self-portrait at the Age of Sixty. Where he looks astonishingly young for that age at the time. This book tries to allude to a sense of anonymity and objectivity in the introduction and cover that it mostly fails. It is drenched in influences from the Canon. There are multiple entries from the same artist here making even less room for people of colour or womxn. And I must imagine that the book this is based on was similarly exclusive, so why did someone want to come back to this flawed premise? The title suggests just a random or less restricted selection as does the organization of the works. Which appear to have been organized in an order I am not familiar with. But I don't understand why the work isn't more upfront about the clear biases of it's creators.

[Deepa Goyal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a wonderful book to study style. I have bern using it for years for inspiration