Vincent Van Gogh
Van Gogh wasn’t able to pay for many models to sit for him, so instead spent much of his time painting self-portraits. He painted over 30 self-portraits between 1886 and 1889. His collection puts him among the most prolific self-portraitists.

“Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear is one of his more interesting and popular self-portraits. Painted in January of 1889 just weeks after a portion of Van Gogh’s ear was cut off; the portrait shows him from a slight angle in a room of the Yellow House wearing a green overcoat and a fur-lined winter cap. His right ear is bandaged in the portrait though in reality the wound was to his left ear; the discrepancy is due to his painting while looking at a mirror image.”
Quote and image sourced from: http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/selfportrait.html
The impression that this artists tries to convey is an emotional one. He explores colour to the fullest extent through his painting style. The purpose of his paintings are quite clearly suggested to educate himself of colour techniques and to grow as an artist. However there is a real sense of sincerity through his self-portraits. He allows a deep intimacy and vulnerability. His history of battles with mental health are well known and I feel a real privilege to be able to share in his emotions through his work. He opens up a taboo subject to the world in a very successful way.
Rembrandt
Self Portrait at the age of 63 (1669), Rembrandt. Oil on canvas 86cm x 70.5cm
Link to to the image: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/rembrandt-self-portrait-at-the-age-of-63
Self Portrait at the age of 63 (1669), Rembrandt. Oil on canvas 86cm x 70.5cm
He painted more self portraits than any other artist of the 17th century. In the portrait that I have chosen, Rembrandt is wearing a deep red coat and a beret with his hands clasped in front of him. He is confronting us with his steady gaze. Rembrandt painted and etched many self portraits during his lifetime, however, those that were undertaken during his final years portrayed him in a reflective mood, are said to be (and I agree are) among the most poignant and challenging to whitness.
The painting that I chose after being cleaned in 1967 and x rayed revealed two alterations to the final design. One being a change to the size of as well as the colour of the beret (originally larger and all white). Secondly the hands were originally open and holiding a paintbrush. The infact of how he repainted the hands brought the attention back to the face. Thus taking the focus away from himself as an artist and replacing it with his sincerity and himself as a man.
I chose this particular portrait as he painted it in the final year of his life before he died on the 4 October 1669.
Tracey Emin

I’ve Got it All (2000) by Tracey Emin. Photograph: Neville Elder/Sygma/Corbis
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2014/sep/04/the-top-10-self-portraits-in-art-lucian-freud-sherman-rembrandt
I chose this in contrast to many of the self portraits that I have been studying. I wanted to step out of the norm and look broader in to other ways of self expression in terms of self portraiture. After becoming famous for My Bed and being shortlisted for the Turner Prize, Emin made this piece. It creates quite a playful impression and an emotional reflection of how she was feeling. Quite an alternative to many of the portraits that I have studied but another way of expressing the artists emotions at the time of creating this self portrait. Thus staying true to what in my opinion is the purpose of a self portrait. I have to say however, without a description, the message would of been lost in translation on me sadly. However, makes perfect sense with understanding. Thus showing how important a written description of the artists intentions are with many pieces of modern art.
David Hockney

Self Portrait with Charlie 1995
This really intrigued me, it is said that he never poses or attempts to make himself look good. Instead he challenges to record the very act of creating a self portrait (painter looking in a mirror, recording what he sees). He attempts to achieve an awkward truth. It is said that “he paints the ideal of honest observation” according to a source from the guardians website. In my opinion there is definitely an awkwardness expressed through this particular piece. I feel quite uncomfortable, however what he is trying to achieve is successful.
Sourced: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2014/sep/04/the-top-10-self-portraits-in-art-lucian-freud-sherman-rembrandt
Self portraits are incredibly vulnerable pieces of work. They freeze all of your emotions in time from that given moment and allow them to be witnessed to whoever wishes to experience them. This is a powerful thing. Modern artists approach to self portraiture challenges my more so. There seems to be a need for purpose and impact, also a different kind of vulnerability in comparison to earlier paintings.
References:
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/rembrandt-self-portrait-at-the-age-of-63
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2014/sep/04/the-top-10-self-portraits-in-art-lucian-freud-sherman-rembrandt