Self-portraits and selfies are not the same things. Historical self-portraits have frequently been identified as selfies, and I would argue that majority of these images are not selfies. Selfies are about behavior, and more specifically, repeated action. We can indulge in selfies during the digital age without any tremendous financial consequence or personal inconvenience - thus, it becomes easy for us to repeat our behavior frequently. The most basic definition of a selfie is: "a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media."

Cajal had a fascination with photography and his image at a young age. He invented some early color photography techniques through his intellectual prowess. Instead of buying prepared photographic plates, he often created emulsion for his photos' plates with a recipe he made. Cajal's emulsified plates were sought after by others wishing to print their photos. His plates were so popular among his flock that many plates were created and sold to locals with his wife's help.

Cajal's ingenuity enabled him to create countless "selfies" throughout his lifetime, and many of them were sent to newspapers for articles or traded with colleagues at conferences. He so prevalently made images of himself that I would argue that the regularity of their creation and exchange places his self-portraits in the realm of selfies and how we understand selfies as a modern concept.