ARTBOOK BLOG

RECENT POSTS

DATE 6/25/2025

Rizzoli presents Anderson Zaca with Thom (Panzi) Hansen for the NYC launch of 'Fire Island Invasion: A Day of Independence'

DATE 6/21/2025

ICP Photobook Club presents Anderson Zaca on 'Fire Island Invasion'

DATE 6/15/2025

Gasoline and Magic for Father's Day, 2025

DATE 6/9/2025

Four decades of previously unpublished work by Bruce Davidson

DATE 6/8/2025

Artbook at MoMA PS1 Bookstore presents J. Hoberman and Melissa Rachleff Burtt on 'Everything is Now'

DATE 6/7/2025

Artbook at MoMA PS1 Bookstore presents Jeanette Spicer launching 'To the Ends of the Earth'

DATE 6/5/2025

A love letter from Robert Frank

DATE 6/2/2025

Exact Change launches Chris Marker's 'Immemory: Gutenberg Version'

DATE 6/1/2025

Inspiration for now in 'Gran Fury: Art Is Not Enough'

DATE 6/1/2025

Pride Month Staff Picks 2025!

DATE 5/29/2025

Feel-good color photography in 'Chromotherapia'

DATE 5/28/2025

Aeon Bookstore launches The Further Reading Library

DATE 5/28/2025

Booksellers, rejoice… 'Offline Activities' is Back in Stock!


AT FIRST SIGHT

ALLIE PISARRO-GRANT | DATE 6/2/2011

Narcissus in the Studio: Artist Portraits and Self-Portraits

This new release is teeming with quirky, fascinating portraits. In a society obsessed with image and beauty, we should welcome these unusual approaches. Here, I have chosen just 8 of my favorites from the 125 color reproductions in this enjoyable new catalog from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Narcissus in the Studio
Above, Picnic at Bedford Hills, 1918, by Florine Stettheimer (1871-1944). I think Florine is the one in red. Picnic season is here!

Narcissus in the Studio
Above, Cookie Jar (How About a Little Cookie), 1971, by Robert Arneson (1930-1992). Cookies for brains, a lovely self-deprecating and whimsical approach to the self-portrait.

Narcissus in the Studio
Above, Self-Portrait, 1974, by Audrey Flack (b. 1931). She was 43 when she painted this self portrait - a strange beauty! I love the 70's glow here.

Narcissus in the Studio
Above, Self-Portrait, 1949, by Sylvia Fien. Honest emotions, exaggerated proportions. Said Sylvia Plath, "Dying is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well. I do it so it feels like hell. I do it so it feels real. I guess you could say I've a call."

Narcissus in the Studio
Above, Self-Portrait, the Striped Blouse, 1940, by Gertrude Abercrombie (1909-1977). I guess she had a great shirt collection - see another one on her Wikipedia page here.

Narcissus in the Studio
Above, Patch Self-Portrait with Small Pictures, ca. 1900, by John Frederick Peto. This is just so classic - so many artists studio walls still look like this today, and it's such an academic approach to a self-portrait. I made one like this when I was at art school!

Narcissus in the Studio
Above, Self-Portrait in Turban with Eskimo Dog Pin, 1972, by Joan Brown (1938-1990). I wish I had an Eskimo Dog Pin!

Narcissus in the Studio
Above, Party for Myself, 1974, by Jane Lund (b. 1939). The title says it all.

Narcissus in the Studio

Narcissus in the Studio

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Pbk, 8 x 9.75 in. / 128 pgs / 125 color.