The Self-Portrait
Print
2010
2010
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This illustration was made by Sir Quentin Blake as part of his work in hospitals, for which he is well-known. It depicts a young person smiling in front of a self-portrait they have made. It forms part of the 'Ordinary Life in Vincent Square' series, which Blake made for the Eating Disorder Unit at the Vincent Square Clinic in Westminster between 2010 and 2011. The project was commissioned by The Nightingale Project, which works to bring art into NHS sites. The series depicts scenes from everyday, 'ordinary life'.
In order to understand what would be appropriate for display at the Eating Disorder Unit, Blake met with a small group of staff and patients. The group agreed that they were happy for Blake to draw anything he liked, although they acknowledged that food was a sensitive area. Blake has said that the illustrations show people relaxed and at ease, and that any depictions of food in the 'Vincent Square' series appeared as part of everyday life, such as an illustration of woman feeding breadcrumbs to a bird. Blake used a quill to for his illustrations to give them a softness, but has also said that the illustrations are of scenes of action and interaction, rather than being sluggishly comfortable.
In order to understand what would be appropriate for display at the Eating Disorder Unit, Blake met with a small group of staff and patients. The group agreed that they were happy for Blake to draw anything he liked, although they acknowledged that food was a sensitive area. Blake has said that the illustrations show people relaxed and at ease, and that any depictions of food in the 'Vincent Square' series appeared as part of everyday life, such as an illustration of woman feeding breadcrumbs to a bird. Blake used a quill to for his illustrations to give them a softness, but has also said that the illustrations are of scenes of action and interaction, rather than being sluggishly comfortable.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Self-Portrait |
| Materials and techniques | Giclée print on Hahnemuhle ‘German etching’ paper |
| Brief description | 'The Self-Portrait', limited-edition print of an image from the 'Ordrinary Life in Vincent Square' series, made for the Eating Disorders Unit at Vincent Square Clinic, 2010. |
| Physical description | Illustration of a person standing in-front of a self-portrait they have made of themselves. The figure has blonde hair, is smiling, holding a paintbrush, and wearing dungarees with paint daubs on. Their self-portrait is also depicted smiling and wearing dungarees. There is a mirror beside the easel, and a table piled with paintbrushes and a palette pictured next to the figure. Hand-signed by the artist and numbered '5/250'. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Limited edition |
| Copy number | 5/250 |
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Given by Quentin Blake |
| Summary | This illustration was made by Sir Quentin Blake as part of his work in hospitals, for which he is well-known. It depicts a young person smiling in front of a self-portrait they have made. It forms part of the 'Ordinary Life in Vincent Square' series, which Blake made for the Eating Disorder Unit at the Vincent Square Clinic in Westminster between 2010 and 2011. The project was commissioned by The Nightingale Project, which works to bring art into NHS sites. The series depicts scenes from everyday, 'ordinary life'. In order to understand what would be appropriate for display at the Eating Disorder Unit, Blake met with a small group of staff and patients. The group agreed that they were happy for Blake to draw anything he liked, although they acknowledged that food was a sensitive area. Blake has said that the illustrations show people relaxed and at ease, and that any depictions of food in the 'Vincent Square' series appeared as part of everyday life, such as an illustration of woman feeding breadcrumbs to a bird. Blake used a quill to for his illustrations to give them a softness, but has also said that the illustrations are of scenes of action and interaction, rather than being sluggishly comfortable. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.40-2022 |
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| Record created | January 12, 2022 |
| Record URL |
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