Self-portrait – Sheila Holland (1932–2002)

The boundaries between the world of this painting and the world in which we are spectating are blurred due to Holland’s intriguing choice of compositional crop. In most self portraits, the artist represents themselves at work or with their utensils. In this work, Holland is indeed painting (or marking something with pastel), but both the tool and her canvas are just out of view to the left side of the work. This coupled with the fact that her gaze is directly locking with that of the viewer makes one feel as if they have just interrupted her in the midst of creation.

Holland has created an arresting self portrait, using the combination of a plain background and clothing and her fixated gaze to keep the viewer’s attention on her face. Her face is represented with extraordinary character, noting her angular cheeks, her Greek nose, and cleft chin. Her lips are pursed in concentration, further adding to the notion that she has been interrupted whilst painting. There is a sense of the ethereal about the portrait, with Holland depicting herself surrounded by a slight glow. The plain background and outfit also further this by adding a dreamlike quality to the work.

Sheila Holland

Little is known about the life and artistic practice of Sheila Holland. She was born in Chesterfield in Derbyshire, and grew up in Wolverhampton. This latter city was where Holland undertook her formal artistic education. She was known to be solitary and private, but did establish a studio in 1985 at Lower Bradford Cottage, located on the atmospheric Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.