Self Portrait (1925 - 1925) by LS LowryThe Lowry
LS Lowry
English artist LS Lowry is famous for painting the industrial towns of northern England. Born in Lancashire in 1887, he often painted large crowds of working people, giving a fascinating glimpse into ordinary life in the early 20th century.
This self-portrait was painted in 1925 and shows Lowry in a flat cap looking straight at the viewer.
Can you guess which of the following paintings is also by Lowry?
Which of these works is also by LS Lowry?
The Fever Van (1935) by Laurence Stephen LowryNational Museums Liverpool
The Fever Van, 1935
Despite being very accomplished, Lowry’s work is often put into the category of Naïve Art, usually defined as art by a person with no formal training. Lowry did undergo professional training, but his stark, stylised figures have led to the label.
Lowry’s work has inspired a huge number of artists over the years and provides us with an invaluable record of life in and around the industrial towns of Lancashire.
Self-Portrait (1876) by Pierre-Auguste RenoirHarvard Art Museums
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Born in France in 1841, Renoir was one of the most famous pioneers of the Impressionist movement. Renoir’s work is notable for its use of light and for its soft brush strokes and saturated colors.
Many of Renoir’s paintings feature candid moments and large crowd scenes, though he painted a number of portraits as well. This self-portrait was made in 1876, when the artist was around 35 years old.
Can you work out which of these other Impressionist works is by the same hand?
Which painting is by Renoir?
La Grenouillère (1869) by Auguste RenoirNationalmuseum Sweden
La Grenouillère, 1869
La Grenouillère shows a crowd of people enjoying the summer sun at the Île de la Grenouillère, a small island in Croissy-sur-Seine. Next to the island is a fashionable floating restaurant called La Grenouillère. It was painted at exactly the same time as Monet’s Bain à la Grenouillère, with the two friends sitting side by side to create their works.
Self-Portrait Dedicated to Leon Trotsky (1937) by Frida KahloNational Museum of Women in the Arts
Frida Kahlo
No self-portrait quiz would be complete without a look at the work of Frida Kahlo. One of the most prolific self-portraitists of all time, her distinctive appearance makes her paintings instantly recognizable.
Born in Mexico in 1907, the artist was incredibly influential. Kahlo employed a Naïve style in many of her works. This linked them closely to Mexican folk art and gave them a very unique aesthetic. Kahlo also liked to paint images inspired by nature and folklore.
So, can you guess which of the following works is also by Kahlo?
Which painting was created by Frida Kahlo?
Girl with Death Mask [Niña con máscara de calavera] (1938) by Frida KahloNagoya City Art Museum
Girl with Death Mask, 1938
Although it may not look like it, this is actually a self-portrait as well. The image depicts a young Kahlo wearing a skull mask. Next to her on the ground is a mask in the shape of a tiger. The masks evoke the Mexican tradition of ‘The Day of the Dead’. An event that’s celebrated every year at the beginning of November.
Learn more about Frida Kahlo here.
