The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 13 letter word SELF-PORTRAIT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
E
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F
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P
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More clues leading to the result SELF-PORTRAIT
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "one by one" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case one by one = self-portrait.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SELF-PORTRAIT mean?
SELF-PORTRAIT noun- The bust of an artist by the artist him/herself; a portrait of the painter who painted it.