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These are the 20 Unknown Facts about Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
Van Gogh,is one of the most famous Dutch artists who was born in the Netherlands but spent the majority of his life in Paris.He however did not lead a good life as most people would anticipate from a gifted artist and one of the best ever painters.
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Financial problems, a bad breakup with Gauguin, and even a mental breakdown plagued Van Gogh’s life. But he however found a way to produce some of the best ever works, including his self portraits which made him one of the most known artists. Let’s take a look at some of the unknown facts about his self portraits;
1.Van Gogh could not afford models for his paintings
Vincent van Gogh – Self-Portrait Photo sourced from Wikimedia
Van Gogh explained to his brother Theo that he had no prospect or chance of finding models for his portraits because of lack of finances in a letter.He said that the best painting he had ever created was the one of peasants munching on potatoes which he had done earlier.
Self-portraits provided Van Gogh with the chance to experiment with color.He continued to tell his brother that in the future, he hoped to be able to afford models so he could show off his new abilities using hues other than the usual greens that people identified him with.
Read more about his paintings here
2.He is second only to Rembrandt who painted around 100 self portraits
A late self portrait by Rembrandt, from the period when he had lost most of his fortune Photo sourced from Wikimedia
During his short 10-year career, Van Gogh painted a total of 36 self-portraits which earns him a place in the list of artists with most self portraits.He comes in second after Rembrandt who produced more self-portraits in his 40 year career. Rembrandt’s self-portraits were created by the artist looking at himself in a mirror.
The paintings and drawings therefore reverse his actual features. Rembrandt’s self-portraits were an exercise in self-examination. Rembrandt was seeking to know himself as he really was, flaws and all, and to analyze his own character and emotions, and he did so by painting himself in a variety of ways.
3.Van Gogh’s self portraits influenced many artists
Together with Rembrandt, Van Gogh’s self-portraits paved way for many artists as a critical exploration, personal realization and aesthetic achievement.Most artists during this time used him and Rembrandt as a reference in their artistic work.
The self portrait of Van Gogh, fall 1887 has often been cited as proof of Van Gogh’s Neo-Impressionism influence. Artists such as Signac and Seurat developed a method termed pointillism or divisionism in which paint was applied consistently in small nearby dots.
Read more about his self-portraits in Top 10 Facts about Van Gogh Self-portrait painting
4.Van Gogh’s self portrait paintings can be found in several locations across the world
Van Gogh made many famous self-portraits, most of these self portrait paintings can be found in several locations across the world. Depending on which one you would like to view, there are multiple places where one can go to view a Van Gogh self-portrait. Many of his paintings can be found in the van Gogh Museum.
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889) is currently housed at the Courtauld Gallery in London. His Van Gogh Self-portrait (1889) can be found at the Musée d’Orsay . Most of his painted portraits have been borrowed from the many self-portraits he painted.
5.Each of his self-portrait displays the evolution of Vincent’s artistic approach
Vincent van Gogh – Self-portrait with grey felt hat Photo sourced from Wikimedia
Each Van Gogh self-portrait displays the evolution of Vincent’s artistic approach through the color and backdrop choices he made.His career development and the different colors he displayed in his self portrait painting shows how he was changing tactics over the years.
Backgrounds that start out dark progressively get lighter and more vibrant. The appearance of the blue blazer and yellow straw hat enlivens his otherwise monochrome attire. Blue, yellow, and red are seen in abundance in the self-portraits he painted while residing in Arles.
6.Van Gogh portrays himself as being restrained and serious in his self-portraits
Self-portraits by Van Gogh illustrate his personality: In his self-portraits, Vincent frequently portrayed himself as restrained and serious, with a focused expression on his face. Van Gogh wrote the following to his brother in letters:
“It is said that it is difficult to know oneself, and I am willing to believe this. However, painting yourself is not a simple task either.” Rembrandt’s portraits are more than just scenes from nature; rather, they are revelations.
7. Van Gogh did self portraits because he did not have anyone commissioning him to do their portraits
Self-portrait Painting by Vincent van Gogh, 1887 Photo sourced from Wikimedia
Since Van Gogh was dependent on his brother and a friend who provided him with workspace in Paris and did not have any clients who wanted him to paint their portraits, he was unable to pay models. Additionally, because of his lack of popularity, he did not receive many requests to paint people’s portraits.
Van Gogh turned to painting his own self-portraits as a means of turning the lemons into lemonade.He took this action because he thought it would help him hone his painting abilities.The self-portrait he created in 1889 with his bandaged ear is one of his most well-known.
8.He used his self-portraits to establish his brand
Self-portraits were utilized by Van Gogh to establish his brand.While living in Paris, Van Gogh grew increasingly conscious of his abilities and the urge to develop them further. He used his free time to study and put the skills he had acquired to use.
Instead of using paintbrush points, Van Gogh applied paint in short, irregular stripes.Van Gogh surrounded the subject’s head with a halo in one of his portraits. Later, this became one of his trademarks.He could use this trademark style for the rest of his paintings.
9.In all his self portraits he depicted untidy beard and appeared dejected
Van Gogh Self-Portrait with Straw Hat 1887 Photo sourced from Wikimedia
Most of his painting depicted his face which looked in a certain and unique way. This was depicted by having lines around his mouth and on the forehead of his face. He had an untidy beard and appeared dejected. His use of vivid, unmixed colors and fresh painting technique were both evident in this piece.
His beard, which was quite orange, reflected this.As he progressed, he added more colour to his palette. His eye colour which was naturally green was turned grey-blue.He made these portraits with reality of himself which earned him a name even after his death.
10. Some of the self-portraits were exchanged with others from other artists
The self-portraits were traded by Van Gogh with other artists.Gauguin was the subject of a portrait painted by Vincent Van Gogh. Additionally, he traded some of his portraits with his friend and fellow artist Emile Bernard.
The two artists also gave Van Gogh self-portraits. He was so delighted by this that he pushed Bernard to keep doing self-portraits. He thought that demand for portrait paintings would always exist.
11. Vincent appears to be ill in three of his own self-portraits
Self-Portrait with a Bandaged Ear Photo sourced from Wikimedia
Another fact about his self portraits is that some of them depicted Van Gogh as being ill. For example, in a complete state of disorientation, on December 23, 1888, Vincent chopped off his left ear. It would signal the beginning of a string of mental collapses.
However, he did’report’ on the incident in two self-portraits. He was hesitant to discuss the incident in his letters.It wasn’t for effect or to elicit sympathy that Vincent painted himself as a sick, shattered man. Painting, he believed, would aid in his recovery. I retain all good hope,” he wrote to Theo.
Read more about him here
12.He did self portraits because he thought they could accomplish what photography could not
Vincent thought that self-portraits and portraiture in general could accomplish things that photography could not. We lack any photos of him as an adult since he detested what was then a very recent technological creation.
Vincent told his sister Wil, “I personally still find images horrible and don’t want to keep any, especially of people I know and love.” He also said that “drawing oneself isn’t simple,” but “one needs a greater resemblance than that of the camera” in another instance.
13. Van Gogh’s most famous self portrait is the Self-Portrait in Front of the Easel
Self-Portrait in Front of the Easel Photo sourced from Wikimedia
Over the course of his artistic career, Van Gogh created 35 self-portraits, but the Self-Portrait in Front of an Easel stands out from the others. Vincent Van Gogh created Self-Portrait in Front of the Easel while he was living in Paris in January 1888.
Although it was uncommon for the artist to depict himself in his line of work, Van Gogh painted many self-portraits that reveal diverse aspects of his life and mental state. Another illustration is the Self-Portrait with Dark Felt Hat at the Easel, one of his older works.
14. Van Gogh was more interested in experimenting and honing his skills
Vincent painted self-portraits for a variety of reasons. He was largely more interested in experimenting and honing his skills than in getting to know himself. But unavoidably, these images do show a lot about him.He is depicted wearing a cravat and a smart hat in one of his earlier works, Self-Portrait with Felt Hat.
After leaving Antwerp and the Netherlands and arriving in Paris a few months later, this was carried out. Then, he preferred to present himself as a proper gentleman rather than a free-spirited artist. It is painted in the same dark hues that he used when he first started out as an artist in the Netherlands a few years prior.
Read more about him in Top 10 Interesting Facts about Vincent Van Gogh
15.He dedicated one of his portraits to his friend Paul Gauguin despite their strained relationship
A portrait of Paul Gauguin Photo sourced from Wikimedia
Van Gogh dedicated one of his portraits to his friend Paul Gauguin despite their strained relationship. Despite having a contentious relationship with his buddy Paul Gaugin, Van Gogh did create one portrait of him.The two pals frequently got into heated fights that would end in violence.
Van Gogh painted his amputated ear and gave it to his friend Gauguin as a gift.It’s interesting to note that this picture exchange took place prior to one of their vicious confrontations, during which Van Gogh slashed his ear with a razor.
16.There have been disagreements over which of his self-portraits is his last one
There is disagreement over which of Van Gogh’s self-portraits was the final one. Art historians cannot agree on this and have had to disagree on which is his last one.There have been arguments over whether his beardless self-portrait was his last painting.
Van Gogh is seen in this image sporting a suit, harsh, gaunt features, and anxious-looking eyes.Van Gogh is thought to have been working on two paintings simultaneously. This was mentioned in one of his letters, but the identity of the second painting is still unknown.
17. Other artists recreated some of his self portraits
Other painters were so moved by Van Gogh’s works that they recreated them.Van Gogh and Australian painter John Peter Russell met in Paris at Fernand Cormon’s studio.In 1886, he rendered van Gogh in a traditional, realistic manner.
Van Gogh urged his brother Theo to take good care of this portrait because he liked it so much.Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who met Van Gogh in the same workshop, painted another portrait.
18.Unlike most masters Van Gogh didn’t necessarily use a mirror in his self portraits
Unlike most masters Van Gogh didn’t necessarily use a mirror in his self portraits. Art historians assume that masters like Rembrandt and Van Gogh used a mirror to paint their own self-images. However, Vincent did not stick strictly with this practice.
In his other self portraits like, in Painter on his Way to Work, a piece that was destroyed in WWII, he paints his own figure from memory. While in his other paintings he used his expressions to make his self port, which was a rare occasions from artists in that time.
19.Van Gogh was going through a psychotic episode when he did some of paintings
Some of his paintings were done when he was in the asylum. At the Saint-Remy asylum, Vincent Van Gogh was going through a psychotic episode when he painted “Oslo Self-Portrait,” which is said to be his final self-portrait.
Since 1910, The Self-Portrait has been part of Norway’s national collection, but its provenance has been actively contested since 1970, when the Van Gogh Museum declared it to be “unmistakably” an original by the painter.
20. Several of his self portraits depicts his tools of trade which are a palette and a fistful of brushes
A vibrant woodblock print and an easel can be seen in the backdrop to the left and right of the person, respectively. Except for Painter on his Way to Work (1888), there are no additional self-portraits with backdrop items.
Van Gogh depicts himself in two self-portraits while holding his tools of the trade—a palette and a fistful of brushes. Van Gogh is seated in Self-Portrait as a Painter, with his easel in the foreground.
