Vincent van Gogh
Paris, March-June 1887
Oil paint on artist’s board
This painting forms, with the works on either side, a group of closely related self-portraits made by Vincent van Gogh in spring 1887. In them, the painter wears the same white shirt and blue cravat under a brown jacket with a navy trim. He represents himself from different angles, however, exploring the impact of these variations.
The loose and seemingly unfinished background is not intentional. Van Gogh had originally set his features against a rich purple backdrop, which has faded over time. Only the green and blue specks added to enliven it remain.