Vincent van Gogh
Saint-Remy, Late August 1889
Oil paint on canvas
In May 1889, following a series of relapses in his mental health, Van Gogh voluntarily entered a psychiatric hospital near Saint Remy-de-Provence. In a letter to his brother Theo, he described this painting as ‘an attempt from when I was ill’. It was the first work he created following a severe crisis in summer 1889. As he had done earlier with Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (displayed on this wall), Van Gogh returned to painting his own features to help him regain his sense of identity. He firmly believed that
‘if I recover… it’ll be because I’ve cured myself by working, which fortifies the will and consequently allows these mental weaknesses less hold’.
This was a courageous stance in the face of great distress. The unusual character of this work means that its attribution to Van Gogh has long been doubted. Recent archival and technical examination have confirmed its authorship, adding a new dimension to Van Gogh’s self-portraiture.