Self Portrait

Paul Jacoulet (1902 - 1960) designed a remarkable set of woodblock prints, this one being apart of the Pacific Exotic. They are beautifully composed, visually exciting, and masterfully produced. I think his woodblock prints could be remade in Illustrator because of its cartoonist look and its fun colors. I like this picture because it synthesize Japanese and French aesthetics and the work that goes into woodblock prints.

This piece was done by Salvador Dali, called “Galatea of the Spheres.” He painted it is 1952 to reflect what he was writing about in his book “Mystic Manifest.” The spheres show general order to the universe and to humans. I love how he portrays the lady in this painting. He makes her look very peaceful and at peace with the world, especially when he has the sky and sea behind her.

This is one of many self-portraits Frieda Kahlo’s painted called “Self-Portraits with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird.” Frida began work on a series of masterpieces which had no precedent in the history of art - paintings which exalted the feminine quality of truth, reality, cruelty and suffering. Never before had a woman put such agonized poetry on canvas as Frida did at this time. You can just look into her eyes and see the unhappiness she lived in. Also, the thorns around her neck express a lot of suffering and pain.