6. The social status of the artist

I feel as though the western world view artists and designers as quite different and eccentric individuals. The majority of creative thinkers tend to have more lee way with reality and tend not to focus on the serious structure of society. They are more interested in expressing themselves as individuals and their personal interpretations of the world. Some parts of society can frown upon the artists more expressive approach to the world, where some embrace it. The world is forever changing and the idea of  being 'normal' is progressively getting less important.

5. The social status of the artist

Vincent Van Gogh
self portrait
early 1888
oil on canvas
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Vincent Van Gogh created a number of self portraits within his life time. The one above documents himself painting which symbolizes the ideas of individualism, as he is displaying a quality and passion of his own. I have noticed by looking at a number of his portrait pieces, a common recurrence is Van Goghs serious, blank like expression on his face. It doesn't seem to matter what the portrait consists of, the artist still displays the same depressed like expression. This could be a representation of his feelings or state of mind. Initially Vincent would use models to help himself to develop his drawing skills. This soon became an expensive system, leading Vincent to practice on drawing and painting himself. This was also a way to promote himself by selling or giving away the sketches or paintings.
“Besides, I think I have spoken the truth, but if I should succeed in replacing in goods the money spent, I should only be doing my duty. And then, something practical I can do is portrait painting.”

 Andy Warhol
Self portrait
1966
silk screen print

I find this self portrait of Andy Warhol to be very clever as it is a way to promote himself as an individual. He he is famous for his pop art prints of well known celebrities. He has taken his classic style of printing and adapted an image of himself to his work. This gives the viewer the idea that he is as famous as the celebrities that are traditionally used in Warhol's works. Naturally, comparing himself to celebrities such as Marylin Munroe, which gives the impression that Warhol thinks highly of himself and creates an egotistic message to the viewers. The pose that Warhol displays in this message is also very superior like, which resembles the famous 'thinking pose'. this reinforces the superior feeling that Warhol is trying to create to the audience.

http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/selfportrait.html
http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/show-full/piece/?object=92.4033&search=&page=&f=Title