self-portrait
/'self'pɔ:trit/
Definition
Noun: A portrait that an artist creates of themselves. This is a specific genre of art where the subject and the creator are the same person.
Usage
The word "self-portrait" is used to describe a specific type of artwork. It is a compound noun. It refers to the physical artwork itself, not the act of creating it.
Examples
- The museum's new exhibition features a famous self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh.
- For her final project, the art student painted a self-portrait.
- Many photographers explore their identity through the medium of the self-portrait.
Advanced Usage
- Extended/Figurative Use: The term can be used metaphorically to describe any work that serves as a revealing representation of its creator.
- The director's latest film is a cinematic self-portrait, full of autobiographical details.
- The concept is often discussed in art history and criticism in terms of self-representation, identity, and introspection.
Variants and Related Words
- Self-portraiture (noun): The practice or art of creating self-portraits.
- Her work is primarily concerned with self-portraiture and identity.
Different Meanings
The word "self-portrait" has a single, specific meaning related to art. It does not have multiple distinct definitions.
Synonyms
- Self-representation (more general, can apply beyond visual art)
- Autoportrait (the French-derived term, sometimes used in English art contexts)
Idioms
There are no common idioms that use the exact term "self-portrait."
Phrasal Verbs
"Self-portrait" is a noun and does not form phrasal verbs.
Noun
-
a portrait of yourself created by yourself
