Portrait of Joseph-Michel Ginoux Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)

The portrait presents a man in formal attire, viewed from a three-quarter angle. He is positioned centrally within the composition, his gaze directed slightly downwards and away from the viewer. The subjects expression conveys a sense of weariness or perhaps quiet contemplation; the downturned mouth and furrowed brow contribute to this impression.
The artist employed a palette dominated by greens and browns, with touches of white in the collar and bow tie. The background is rendered as a flat, uniform expanse of green, which serves to isolate the figure and direct attention towards his face. Brushstrokes are visible throughout the painting, applied with considerable impasto, particularly on the subject’s face and jacket. This technique creates texture and emphasizes the physicality of the paint itself.
The mans clothing suggests a position of some social standing – a dark suit paired with a crisp white bow tie. However, the overall effect is not one of celebratory grandeur. The subdued color scheme and the subject’s melancholic expression temper any sense of ostentation. There is an austerity to the presentation that hints at a deeper narrative beyond mere representation.
The compositions simplicity – the figure against the plain background – suggests a focus on psychological depth rather than external details. It implies a desire to capture not just a likeness, but also something of the subject’s inner life. The deliberate distortion of facial features and the unconventional color choices contribute to an unsettling yet compelling portrayal, moving beyond straightforward realism towards a more expressive rendering of character.