Self-Portrait

About the painting

The Art Institute holds a significant Self-Portrait from 1887, painted during his transformative Paris period. This early example is modest in size, painted on artist's board rather than canvas. Its densely dabbed brushwork, a hallmark of his evolving style, reflects his response to the revolutionary Pointillist technique of Georges Seurat, whose monumental A Sunday on La Grande Jatte is also a highlight of the Art Institute's collection. In this self-portrait, Van Gogh's face is a canvas of intense greens, blues, reds, and oranges, applied in staccato dots and dashes. His deep green eyes dominate, fixed with an intense gaze that seems to pierce through time. This painting showcases his shift towards a brighter palette and his use of color not just descriptively, but as an intense emotional language. It's a powerful self-examination, revealing the artist's inner turmoil and his relentless quest for self-understanding.