Lycée International Français en Egypte “LIFE”

EVALUATIONS COMMUNES -SESSION NOVEMBRE 2022

BACCALAUREAT GENERAL
EPREUVE D’ENSEIGNEMENT DE SPECIALITE
Language, Literature and Culture

Dimanche 13 novembre 2022

TERMINALE

DURÉE DE L’ÉPREUVE : 3H30

L’usage de la “non-encyclopedic unilingual (English

English)” dictionaire est autorisé.
Ce sujet se compose de 9 pages.
Dès que ce sujet vous sera remis, assurez-vous qu’il est complet.

Répartition des points :

Synthèse 16 points
Traduction ou transposition 4 points

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SUJET 1

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a. Compare and Contrast the evolution and difference between Self-Portraits and Selfies and how do artists self-
express themselves through either methods?

b. Explain the effect of transforming the poses of subjects in old classical paintings to modern selfie poses? Would
this transformation lead to the vanishing of the art of painting self-portraits?

Document B (Line 6 to Line 11)

The art of self-expression, and more specifically self-portraiture – the godfather of the selfie – goes back
centuries. Since the earliest times, we as humans have loved to let people know what we looked like through art.
Yet it wasn’t until the Early Renaissance, in the mid-15th century, that the trend really started to grow. This
shift in artists experimenting with self-portraiture was brought on by mirrors becoming better and cheaper to get
hold of and the advent of panel painting – the technique of painting on a flat panel of wood rather than on walls,
which were often uneven or using vellum (animal skin that went through a long preparation process).

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Document A

Artists Explain Why They Paint Self-Portraits

By Marion Boddy-Evans Updated on 03/21/18

A photographer friend asked: "Why is it that artists always seem to try self portraits? I mean what's up with that? I
have never tried to photograph myself in portrait ... largely because I know the results will be all too shockingly
real! Maybe that’s why artists who paint are so keen to do themselves ... I suppose you can paint what you hope
others see, and not what they actually do. Do you think that’s what you look like or is that what you hope others
see? Excuse my art-philosophy for a second, but I've always kinda wondered about these things."

Many people paint self-portraits because it means always having a model available—and one who didn’t complain
about the results when a painting session was over. We posted the question on a Painting Forum to find out what
other artists thought. Here are some of the replies: 

“If you cannot capture the essence of your own self, how are you to capture the essence of someone else?” –
Bridgetbrow

“You're always available to pose for yourself, and it's one way of keeping busy if you're not doing anything else. It's
also a way of charting your progress in a way, to see how far you’ve come, if you have at all, from the last time you
did one.” – Taffetta

“I believe that in doing so you show the world how you perceive yourself. Some of the masters have actually been
quite shocked at their finished work and have shocked the art world as well.” – Annasteph

“Personally, I think I'm too darned ugly (hehe) to put on canvas. I'd rather paint something beautiful. Just
joking....but speaking of ugly....a lot of self-portraits are just that. It's a window to the soul. A perception, not
necessarily a likeness, unless you're doing it to practice your skills.” – Ruthie

“Self-portraits are notoriously hard to sell. That being said, finding a (free) model is always difficult, unless you
have very good or very narcissist friends! I always find that working from a mirror gives you a 'staring quality', so a
close-up photo is a good reference to help with self-portraiture when combined with mirrors” – Moondoggy

“I really like to look at the self-portraits the great artists have done. I think, to paint oneself, is one of the harder
things to do, especially if the painter is honest. I also think it should turn out to be the best piece one does, even if
others do not agree with you. You know yourself best, after all. I suspect the hard part is in being honest, not
dolling yourself up, nor dulling yourself down. If you can do it for yourself, you can do it for others.
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I've done one self-portrait and everyone says it isn't me. I'm neither that old or that ugly... they could be right but I
was down at the time feeling both old and ugly and it sure came out.” – Tema

“I did [a self portrait] about six months ago and actually liked it. And it did look like me. … I think when I do the
next one, I will try a different medium. … I want to try something different and push myself -- both in technique
and perception of the subject matter. Make the next one a little edgier than the last.” – Terry

“Where else can you get someone to look at for a long enough time so that you can figure out the basics of the eyes,
nose, mouth, hair, etc. You can simply throw them away when you want and not feel bad about it. I got much better
at portraits after doing this. Don't just do it once, though that would be better than none!” – Mseunell

“For someone who really want to learn it's the best exercise, because when you draw someone that you know well
it's often more difficult than draw a person that you don’t know at all. I recommend using a mirror and place a little
spot of color to help you to look at the same direction after you look at your piece of paper.” -- Johanne Duchaine

The most important reason is because the creative process is one of self-discovery and realization and not just
technical know-how. This makes painting a very introspective art form since one of the requirement for great art
should be individuality and uniqueness of style, and although these are not the only strengths required, any serious
artist who has held a paintbrush in their hands will tell you they wish to paint their subject matter as no one else
ever has before them.

There is a unique psychological thing that takes place when you look into your own eyes and face and paint your
own portrait. Your own face suddenly becomes a mirror to your soul, the real you, and strange things happen as you
paint. I would recommend it to anyone in pursuit of the prize, ‘know thyself’. Do it often, you will be amazed at
what you discover about yourself.

The other obvious reason is that not every artist has access to or can afford good models, and any face is better than
no face if you want to paint portraits." -- Gary O

Document B

How the Self-Portrait Evolved Into the Selfie

By Google art and culture

A look at the artists who’ve defined self-portraiture

It’s said that every day 93 million selfies are taken all over the world, with many of them being shared across
multiple platforms for handfuls of likes, comments and adoration. While it might seem like we’re more self-
obsessed than ever, you could argue the simple act of snapping a pic of yourself is merely a form of self-expression,
with a much bigger potential audience.

The art of self-expression, and more specifically self-portraiture – the godfather of the selfie – goes back centuries.
Since the earliest times, we as humans have loved to let people know what we looked like through art. Yet it wasn’t
until the Early Renaissance, in the mid-15th century, that the trend really started to grow. This shift in artists
experimenting with self-portraiture was brought on by mirrors becoming better and cheaper to get hold of and the
advent of panel painting – the technique of painting on a flat panel of wood rather than on walls, which were often
uneven or using vellum (animal skin that went through a long preparation process).
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It became an opportunity for artists to depict themselves as the main subject, as heroes in their own stories. Even
today it’s still seen as an opportunity to capture a version of yourself nobody else sees. The difference though, is
that a digital selfie is a much more instant way of creating a self-portrait, its reach is far bigger than it ever was, and
there's more of a danger that it can be manipulated not just by the creator, but by other people. It's this uncertainty
that has perhaps led people to talk about the deluge of selfies and the motivations behind them more in recent years.

Whatever the method, whether it’s oil on canvas or a snapshot made up of pixels, these parallels suggest a need to
look at the artists that have used self-portraiture in their work over the years, to pinpoint key moments,
developments and motivations.

Document C

If Famous Faces From Classical Paintings Discovered Selfies

Posted by yguillet on 8 novembre 2020

In “Classicool” the subjects of the paintings abandon their classical pose and take over the canvas to literally “paint
themselves”. Some of the most famous classical portraits and self-portraits in the world are reborn within the digital
ecosystem of social networks.

These are not just memes shared on social networks, they are finished and detailed artworks, like real paintings of
the past, showing subjects in authentic and modern selfie poses. “Classicool” is an iconoclastic project that blends
together two apparently heterogeneous aesthetics, creating an ironic and surprising result.

According to karla Barba-Court article ( January 23, 2019, Art & Culture) Dito Von Tease, “ NO ONE CAN
RESIST A SELFIE, “Even classical paintings want in on the social media hype and as you can see, their selfie game is
strong. Classicool is the latest project by a Bologna-based artist who goes behind the moniker (name) Dito Von Tease. Using
some of the most famous portraits in the art world, Von Tease manipulates each image to show an outstretched arm holding
up a camera: a signature element in the modern selfie game. The juxtaposition of modern and authentic yield ironic and
surprising results.

The amusing project reflects on narcissistic self-publishing and the democratization of photography. Whereas only
the powerful and the wealthy could celebrate their essence by commissioned paintings in the past, self-
immortalization has gone from private to public century after century.

Von Tease, an art director and digital artist, is also known for creating finger-portraits of both famous and common
people. His work has inspired advertising campaigns and artistic collaborations. That said, we presume he doesn’t
take selfies.”

Document D

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 Photo by Johan Mouchet,
Published on November 26, 2018

Portrait Of An Unknown Woman – Ivan Kramskoy, 1883