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Discover

Discover

Lost in the stories that make you fall in love with art, again and again.

Overview

The Female Self-Portrait Across the Ages

In 1548 in Antwerp, a 20-year-old artist painted a self-portrait. Despite its modesty and scale, Catharina van Hemessen’s painting of herself at the easel is significant: it’s the first known self-portrait of an artist at work.

July 2023

The Female Self-Portrait Across the Ages 2

In 1548 in Antwerp, a 20-year-old artist painted a self-portrait. Despite its modesty and scale, Catharina van Hemessen’s painting of herself at the easel is significant: it’s the first known self-portrait of an artist at work.

May 2025

The Female Self-Portrait Across the Ages 3

In 1548 in Antwerp, a 20-year-old artist painted a self-portrait. Despite its modesty and scale, Catharina van Hemessen’s painting of herself at the easel is significant: it’s the first known self-portrait of an artist at work.

May 2025