Portraits present unique challenges with respect to pictorial composition. This is one reason landscape and still-life might be used to explain and explore compositional ideas. The ideas are far more accessible and obvious.
But perhaps because of these difficulties, portrait composition will reward us with more valuable information? Generally, what methods are used to analyze the compositional structures of painting or drawing? Are there more interesting and productive ways of looking at portrait composition? In the case of this self-portrait, what is the content (ideas) and how does the form create it? What do you think?
