It Describes

Self-portrait is a special type of painting as an artist goes through spiritually complex course when he draws his self-portrait. In the western history of art many artists have drawn their portraits, but it is impossible for all of them to leave their portraits in any time. The society and circumstances in which artists live inevitably affect the creation of self-portrait. By making a study of self-portraits and records about them this article analyzes the effects the social status of artists had on the creation of self-portrait with sociology. Before the Renaissance artists belonged to the lowest level of society, which determined that only few artists left their self-portraits and had to face pressures from the society. Then artists in the Renaissance emancipated from traditional social status and mentality and the image of "divine artist" emerged, so they firmly put themselves in the center of painting. As a type of painting, self-portrait came into being in the Renaissance.