1. Symbolic Self Portraits
What is Symbolism?
What is a Self Portrait?

2. Symbolism :using pictures or words to represent ideas or feelings.
Self Portrait: A representation of an artist that is drawn, painted, photographed, or sculpted by that artist.

3. Portraits by Giuseppe Arcimboldo
How has symbolism been used here?
Winter 1573
Summer
Roman God of the Seasons 1591
Giuseppe Arcimboldo was a mannerist. Mannerism was a style of art popular in Italy from around Mannerists tended to exaggerate “manners” or gestures of a person and placed value on the relationship between human and nature. Many of his artworks can be found in the Louvre in Paris.

4. FUN FACT
Arcimboldo-style fruit people appear as characters in the movies The Tale of Despereaux and Alice Through the Looking Glass, as well as the Cosmic Osmo video game series.

5. Assemblage “Trash” Portraits of Jason Mecier
Similar to collage, assemblage artists construct artwork from many parts . However, rather than paper they use 3-d elements that are often ‘found’.
Jason Mecier is post-modern artist who is alive and working today.
Do you think Mecier is trying to say something about the person/figure with the objects he’s chosen to use?

6. Word Portraits by Michael Volpicelli and Kato Smock
Both of these artists use typography to create their portraits. Typography is the art or procedure of arranging type/words.
Similarities? Differences? How do the words relate to the person in the portrait?
Both of these artists are alive and working today. They are post-modernists.

7. Let’s go back to the studio to talk about your options for creating a symbolic self portrait!!