Rothenstein's fame in artistic circles, combined with his small stature, round head and characteristic round spectacles, meant that he was an instantly recognisable figure, much caricatured by his contemporaries, who included Max Beerbohm, William Orpen, 'Whitechapel Boy' Mark Wayner and later, emigree Milein Cosman. Rothenstein's own gently self-deprecating self-portrait, inscribed 'Sir W. Rothenstein drawn by himself in 1914, a companion to E.H.'s portrait', acknowledges this aspect of his fame. Rothenstein was knighted in 1931 so the inscription was presumably added at a later date.