--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My early self-portraits appeared…" description: "\"My early self-portraits appeared effortlessly and seemed like equivalents for my deeper emotions. Many critics remarked that the images had an almost o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/joyce-tenneson-23149_authentic-self_my-early-self-portraits-appeared-effortl_149125.jpg" --- # My early self-portraits appeared effortlessly and seemed… ![“My early self-portraits appeared effortlessly and seemed like equivalents for my deeper emotions. Many critics remarked that the images had an almost other-worldly haunting presence. For me, they were simply my own reality at that point in my life. What I was trying to reveal was my inner soul in…” quote by Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/joyce-tenneson-23149_authentic-self_my-early-self-portraits-appeared-effortl_149125.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/joyce-tenneson-23149_authentic-self_my-early-self-portraits-appeared-effortl_149125.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/joyce-tenneson-23149_authentic-self_my-early-self-portraits-appeared-effortl_149125.jpg) > “My early self-portraits appeared effortlessly and seemed like equivalents for my deeper emotions. Many critics remarked that the images had an almost other-worldly haunting presence. For me, they were simply my own reality at that point in my life. What I was trying to reveal was my inner soul in all its fragile complexity. Without knowing it, I was trying to peel back the layers that shroud and bind us all as we struggle to reveal our own authentic selves.” [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artistic self‑portraits reveal inner fragility, inviting viewers to confront their own authentic selves. **In simple terms:** Self‑portraits expose inner truth. Key Takeaway Create art that mirrors inner complexity. Themes art self‑discovery authenticity Mood introspective creative Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - gallery shows - personal therapy - creative workshops Key Concepts vulnerability identity expression Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself are you afraid to reveal? - How does vulnerability shape connection? A Different Perspective Art may be misinterpreted without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authentic self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authentic-self/) [Complexity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexity/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Fragile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fragile/) [Haunting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haunting/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self portrait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-portrait/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [When I look in the mirror, I am slightly reminded of self-portraits by Durer and by Rembrandt, because they both show a degree of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/when-i-look-in-the-mirror-i-am-slightly-reminded-of-self-portraits-by/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [My work has been about making a record of my life that no one can revise. I photograph myself in times of trouble or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/my-work-has-been-about-making-a-record-of-my-life-that-no-one-can/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [I have always loved the amateur side of photography, automatic photographs, accidental photographs with uncentered compositions, heads cut off, whatever. I incite people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-klein/i-have-always-loved-the-amateur-side-of-photography-automatic/) [William Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-klein/) > [Many of Bonnard's later paintings are shot through with a powerful sense of morbidity. The self-portraits he painted after catching sight of himself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-graham-dixon/many-of-bonnard-s-later-paintings-are-shot-through-with-a-powerful/) [Andrew Graham-Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-graham-dixon/) > [I think self-portraits are very difficult. I’ve always seen mine as straightforward, very stripped down, hair pulled back. No shirt. Whatever light happened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/i-think-self-portraits-are-very-difficult-i-ve-always-seen-mine-as/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I think that deprecation part is a very important aspect because when someone looks into themselves, if they're going to be honest, they're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/i-think-that-deprecation-part-is-a-very-important-aspect-because-when/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [I do not care about my own appearance, but I would hope that people could see into my soul, and that is presented better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/i-do-not-care-about-my-own-appearance-but-i-would-hope-that-people/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [I felt that the beach portraits were all self-portraits. That moment of unease, that attempt to find a pose, it was all about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rineke-dijkstra/i-felt-that-the-beach-portraits-were-all-self-portraits-that-moment/) [Rineke Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rineke-dijkstra/) > [There are ways of angling the camera. I don't just use a tripod. The only time I did that was in '88 when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/there-are-ways-of-angling-the-camera-i-don-t-just-use-a-tripod-the/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [Everyone thinks these are self-portraits but they aren't meant to be. I just use myself as a model because I know I can push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/everyone-thinks-these-are-self-portraits-but-they-aren-t-meant-to-be/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [I always take a close look at those who lose themselves in self portraits. They are solitary souls, prone to introspection, who have really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-ha-kim/i-always-take-a-close-look-at-those-who-lose-themselves-in-self/) [Young-Ha Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-ha-kim/) > [Self-portraits have been done in painting, but never in music or literature. It has no meaning, it makes no sense. And in movies I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/self-portraits-have-been-done-in-painting-but-never-in-music-or/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-paint-self-portraits-because-i-am-so-often-alone-because-i-am-the/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Painting self-portraits without clothes on has also given me some publicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleo-moore/painting-self-portraits-without-clothes-on-has-also-given-me-some/) [Cleo Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleo-moore/) > [Self-portraits are a way of revealing something about oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kandel/self-portraits-are-a-way-of-revealing-something-about-oneself/) [Eric Kandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kandel/) ## More by Joyce Tenneson > [Michaelangelo said the mirror is our greatest teacher. My use of mirrors in my work helps me uncover psychic layers. Often, the face is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/michaelangelo-said-the-mirror-is-our-greatest-teacher-my-use-of/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [My whole artistic life has been devoted to battling myself and my ability to externalize my deepest emotions. As I have gotten older, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/my-whole-artistic-life-has-been-devoted-to-battling-myself-and-my/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [Find the one thing you’re good at and FOCUS on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/find-the-one-thing-you-re-good-at-and-focus-on-it/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [If I am lucky, something new and inexplicable often appears in front of my lens. I am always surprised by the mystery of how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/if-i-am-lucky-something-new-and-inexplicable-often-appears-in-front/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [Photographing these flowers has made me see the world differently. It was as if I had lifted a secret veil from a subject I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/photographing-these-flowers-has-made-me-see-the-world-differently-it/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [I found that I wanted to be best friends with almost all the women I interviewed because they had been through something. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/i-found-that-i-wanted-to-be-best-friends-with-almost-all-the-women-i/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [If I had to pick a single word to describe what my pictures are all about, I would say 'secrets.' As a child I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/if-i-had-to-pick-a-single-word-to-describe-what-my-pictures-are-all/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [I would never censor something to please someone. I don't play games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/i-would-never-censor-something-to-please-someone-i-don-t-play-games/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [The people I work with, the people I photograph, become a kind of family for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/the-people-i-work-with-the-people-i-photograph-become-a-kind-of/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [I never chased after any particular school, never really had mentors; I really just did the work that was true to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/i-never-chased-after-any-particular-school-never-really-had-mentors-i/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [I have the same themes over and over again. How I'm saying it keeps changing or growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/i-have-the-same-themes-over-and-over-again-how-i-m-saying-it-keeps/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [I want to allow others to reveal and celebrate aspects of themselves that are usually hidden. My camera is a witness. It holds a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/i-want-to-allow-others-to-reveal-and-celebrate-aspects-of-themselves/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [Over the years I have photographed thousands of people. I have never stopped being curious and trying to discover new worlds. I have used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/over-the-years-i-have-photographed-thousands-of-people-i-have-never/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [I think of my work as very polarizing; either people really do like it and are touched by it or they really don't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/i-think-of-my-work-as-very-polarizing-either-people-really-do-like-it/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) > [The most important thing is to try and enjoy life because you never know when it will be gone. If you wake up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tenneson/the-most-important-thing-is-to-try-and-enjoy-life-because-you-never/) [Joyce Tenneson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) [Explore all 26 Joyce Tenneson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-tenneson/) ## More Authentic self quotes > [Sometimes being your most authentic self involves accepting others for who they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-the-drag-queen/sometimes-being-your-most-authentic-self-involves-accepting-others/) [Bob the Drag Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-the-drag-queen/) > [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, focus your energy on what you can create.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/instead-of-worrying-about-what-you-cannot-control-focus-your-energy/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [“The biggest mistake people make when trying to be authentic is just that: they try. They see these role models of what an "authentic"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/the-biggest-mistake-people-make-when-trying-to-be-authentic-is-just/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [Representing the U.S.A. is one of the greatest honors of my life, and being able to do it as my authentic self makes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/representing-the-u-s-a-is-one-of-the-greatest-honors-of-my-life-and/) [Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/) > [I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I've become. If I had, I'd have done it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-had-no-idea-that-being-your-authentic-self-could-make-me-as-rich-as/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I met people on college campuses who were defining themselves as genderqueer to express revolutionary feelings, or to communicate their individuality; they were gender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/i-met-people-on-college-campuses-who-were-defining-themselves-as/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [ We \[Facebook\] really believe in enabling people to be their authentic selves on the web, and enabling people to communicate directly with each other… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/we-facebook-really-believe-in-enabling-people-to-be-their-authentic/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Bring the best of your Authentic Self to every opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jantsch/bring-the-best-of-your-authentic-self-to-every-opportunity/) [John Jantsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jantsch/) > [“In spite of the horror, in spite of the tragedy, in spite of the weeks of sleepless nights, I'm finally alive. I'm not pretending.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/in-spite-of-the-horror-in-spite-of-the-tragedy-in-spite-of-the-weeks/) [Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/) > [I feel inauthentic at a party. ... Going to a party is a 'low' activity - the authentic self is compromised, fragmented - one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/i-feel-inauthentic-at-a-party-going-to-a-party-is-a-low-activity-the/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [I was raised by a woman who was her true and authentic self. So I feel like it's very important to put on for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-thee-stallion/i-was-raised-by-a-woman-who-was-her-true-and-authentic-self-so-i-feel/) [Megan Thee Stallion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-thee-stallion/) > [Our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic self-hood, whether or not it conforms to some image of who we ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-deepest-calling-is-to-grow-into-our-own-authentic-self-hood/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The master in us all lives behind the masks and roles and wounds and beliefs. It calls us to live deep, full, radical lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-nordby/the-master-in-us-all-lives-behind-the-masks-and-roles-and-wounds-and/) [Jacob Nordby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-nordby/) > [Once you accept and rejoice in your authenticity, you begin to see things as YOU are. You begin to see the authentic self is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/once-you-accept-and-rejoice-in-your-authenticity-you-begin-to-see/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) [Browse all 245 Authentic self quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authentic-self/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My early self-portraits appeared effortlessly and seemed like equivalents for my deeper emotions. Many critics remarked that the images had an almost other-worldly haunting presence. For me, they were simply my own reality at that point in my life. What I was trying to reveal was my inner soul in all its fragile complexity. 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