Me: 3 Early 20th Century Self-Portrait Masterpieces

Did you know it was not until the mid 1400s, when mirrors became more popular, that visual artists dared to refer to themselves as main subjects in their own work of art? Approximately 500 years later vocabulary of human culture was dramatically changed and self-portraits were already a popular form of expression. Used by true groundbreakers to express the zeitgeist of the pre-World War I and stretch the borders of their medium, the following are three self-portrait masterpieces made by early 20th century expressionist artists. Don't miss the click for high-res versions.

Ludwig Meidner



My Night Visage, 1913


Otto Dix



Self-Portrait as a Soldier in a Red Shirt, 1914


Egon Schiele



Self-Portrait Pulling Cheek, 1910