Self-Portrait Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Vincent van Gogh – Self-Portrait
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Painter: Vincent van Gogh
Location: Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo.
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The artist Vincent Van Gogh painted a large number of paintings entitled simply, "Self-Portrait." Among such an abundance of images of the famous creator, we will focus on an 1887/88 self-portrait painted in oil on canvas in Paris. In front of us is the face of a man who has passed the limits of his mature years. His eyes are black, somewhat frightened and a little preoccupied by something he has seen or experienced.
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Description of Vincent van Gogh’s painting Self-Portrait
The artist Vincent Van Gogh painted a large number of paintings entitled simply, "Self-Portrait." Among such an abundance of images of the famous creator, we will focus on an 1887/88 self-portrait painted in oil on canvas in Paris.
In front of us is the face of a man who has passed the limits of his mature years. His eyes are black, somewhat frightened and a little preoccupied by something he has seen or experienced. He is wearing a red beard. His facial features are somewhat thin, and his nose is rather large.
There are a lot of facial wrinkles, and especially visible between the eyebrows, indicating that the author was frowning while he was painting this work. His mouth is slightly ajar in an exhausted distraction.
The overall feeling of the portrait is painful. The hair on the man’s head is light red and slicked back, very well traced on the forehead bald patches and bags under his eyes. The face resembles the coloring of faded autumn leaves, the skin of the forehead is pale. One ear is neat and very well seen in its rounded shape, the other is protruding, but due to the half-turn of the head it remains invisible to the inattentive viewer.
The artist’s neck is short and very thin. The white shirt is buttoned up, the lapels of the brown jacket are close to his neck and are decorated with small stripes of ochre color. The whole picture is somewhat rippled, like an old black-and-white movie, and gives us the feeling that we are looking at some kind of chronicle, almost a fading personality.
Red, brown, ochre, black and greenish, with yellow streaks dominate the painting. Brushstroke technique is quite large, so the canvas looks more like a panel made of wax or colored plasticine. Despite the fact that the author is a recognized personality, the painting looks rather mediocre.
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The subject’s features are rendered with a palpable energy. Thick impasto strokes define his face, particularly around the eyes and mouth, creating a sense of texture and immediacy. His skin tones range from pale yellows and pinks to areas of deeper red, suggesting both vitality and perhaps a certain weariness. A prominent reddish-brown beard dominates the lower portion of the face, its individual hairs suggested by short, broken brushstrokes. The man’s eyes are striking; their color is an unusual green, and they convey a feeling of profound introspection or even melancholy.
The clothing consists of a light-colored jacket with a visible button at the center and a blue shirt collar peeking out from beneath it. These details are painted with less precision than the face, further emphasizing the focus on the subject’s countenance. The brushwork here is looser, contributing to the overall sense of movement within the composition.
The paintings subtexts revolve around themes of self-scrutiny and psychological depth. The direct gaze establishes a confrontational relationship between the viewer and the depicted individual, inviting an examination of his inner state. The turbulent background suggests an internal struggle or emotional complexity. The intensity of the brushwork conveys a sense of urgency and perhaps even agitation. It is not merely a representation of physical appearance but rather an exploration of character and psychological condition. The overall effect is one of vulnerability combined with quiet strength, hinting at a complex and possibly troubled personality.