Throughout the course of art history, self-portraiture has been an irresistible exercise for artists as different as Rembrandt van Rijn in the 17th century and Frida Kahlo in the 20th, two of the genre’s most prolific practitioners. (Rembrandt is said to have created nearly 100, while Kahlo painted 55.) Kahlo, one of Mexico’s great artists, once remarked, “I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.” Yet, not all artists are solitary. On the following pages, we showcase a collection of self-portraits with a twist: all include a dog. In the artist’s gaze, we look for what lies behind their special genius, and are left to ponder the inscrutable presence of the dog. Does it symbolize the muse, the untamed spirit or devotion? These creative introspections remind us that the “selfie” is not at all a modern phenomenon. Rather—much like our relationship with dogs—it is a continuation of a fascination that dates back centuries.
via Whisker Therapy