The Cheapest Model

Artists painted themselves for a simple reason: they were always available, always patient, and always free. No hired model could hold a pose for as long as the work needed, but a mirror never complained or asked for payment.

Convenience isn't the whole story, though. Artists also used their own faces to experiment with technique — testing new approaches to light, color, and expression on the subject they knew best. Rembrandt's 80-odd self-portraits add up to a lifetime of experiments carried out on his own face.