English

In 1497, the great artist Michelangelo once exclaimed the fundamental phrase, ‘Every painter paints himself’. In this particular statement, Michelangelo was referring to the heart and soul of every artist being deeply embedded in each of their works. However, although an artist may bare some resemblance to certain figures among their pieces, the likeness is incomparable to the explicit honesty captured in a self-portrait. The self-portrait is certainly one of the most direct means in which art can directly address the human condition. Through the self-portrait, artists are able to put various aspects of their lives on display, giving viewers an authentic insight to their character, identity and interests. Two famous artworks that effortlessly display the characters of their creators are Frida Kahlo’s ‘The Broken Column’, which tells her tale of sadness and suffering; and Albrecht Durer’s ‘Self-Portrait 1500’ that gives an excellent insight into just how Durer perceived himself.

Frida Kahlo’s ‘The Broken Column’ (1944), is one of many insightful yet somewhat disturbing self-portraits she painted over the course of her career. Born and raised in Mexico City in the early 20th century, Kahlo was self-taught and her paintings show a similar style to many surrealist artists of her time. ‘The Broken Column’, one of Kahlo’s more notable portraits, is a captivating portrayal of the horrific pain she was suffering at that point and time in her life and effortlessly gives viewers a deeper understanding into her being. The oil portrait was painted on a medium sized canvas, 17 inches long by 13 inches wide, and is only one of an estimated 55 self-portraits she managed to paint over the duration of her 47-year life. A large figure, being Frida Kahlo herself, dominates the centre of the painting. A gaping trough runs along the middle of her torso and in place of a spine, a large, broken column appears to be crumbling under her weight. Her upper body is consumed by a large...