Self Portrait Holding a Portrait of Her Sister
Rosalba Carriera’s Self Portrait Holding a Portrait of Her Sister fascinates me. In fact, this masterpiece highlights what makes self portraits special. These paintings reveal how artists see themselves. On some level, every painting is a peek into its painter’s point of view. It’s their gift to us – a new way of seeing. When they portray themselves, painters convey a few levels of perspective. There’s what they see in the mirror. On the surface, this is how they see themselves. Of course, one can’t presume utter candor in all cases. So, on another level, artists show what they want us to see about them with a self portrait. However, the painter also has in mind what they want viewers to think is how they see themselves.
But Carriera’s frank depiction here sets a stunning example of honest reflection. It’s charming. The cleft chin of the artist and her sister’s pock mark point to the reality of their looks. She emphasizes their noticeable imperfection. Both women were what was oft-called spinsters in their day. In fact, Rosalba’s sister, Giovanna, worked as her housekeeper. They supported each other in both the literal and symbolic sense. Self Portrait Holding a Portrait of Her Sister points out, warts and all, their unconventional stature.
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