Richard Estes’ hyperrealist paintings are directly informed by his photography and drawing practices. Estes often works from a plethora of his own photographs, which he then composes, draws, and meticulously reproduces in paint. In the present work, Self Portrait in VW Bug, the artist depicted his reflection as distorted by the paneling of the vehicle. Estes rarely produces self-portraits, and, when he does, he almost exclusively appears behind his camera through reflection, as an incidental component of the painting. When asked about his occasional appearances in his own works, Estes explained, “I’m in the photo, so I make self-portraits that way.” Self Portrait in VW Bug demonstrates Estes’ unwavering commitment to photorealism throughout his celebrated career.