Art of the Day
A week of van Gogh self-portraits
Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890)
Self-Portrait, Autumn 1887
Oil on canvas
Paris: Musée d’Orsay
Click on image for a larger view.
Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painter’s soul. — Vincent Van Gogh
It’s been said that you learn about yourself when you do a self-portrait. I think that it is also true that you can learn about a painter from his or her self-portrait. One sterling example can be found by studying the works of Vincent van Gogh.
Van Gogh lived a life of poverty. Often, when he couldn’t afford a model or when one was not available, he would paint himself. These self-portraits tell us a story about van Gogh. They show the ups and downs of his moods and the swing between sanity and delirium.
This week I will post a series of these paintings. Feel free to comment on what you see or feel when looking at the work. Though beware, often what you see reveals a lot about you, too.
what strikes me about this painting is the contrast between the dark and light areas…how he seems to be glowing even though he is surrounded by “gloom” (dark background)…i like it! but then, i love Van Gogh!
He seems vibrant to me, full of ambition and drive. The spiffy clothes leads me to think that perhaps this is good time in his life, a time when poverty has less of a hold on him.
He doesn’t seem to be as burdened, though there does seem to be a bit of concern in his eyes. Perhaps this is because he is more critical of himself than others are. Despite things going well, he is on the lookout for the other shoe to drop.
when i went to NYC in January, i had one day to go to the Met. I’d been there two times before, but with other people who weren’t as interested. i spent five hours in there, most of it in the European and Modern art sections. I could’ve easily stayed in there another two or three hours if the damn thing hadn’t closed…
When I look at that picture I see a man sneering. He seems to be unsure of himself and weary of the person looking back at him. I, too, notice that he’s dressed to the 9’s. I saw this more as a rebellion against the poverty he had once known.
Do you know anything about him cutting his ear off, Swirly? If so, do share! This was brought up last night with Phillip and I thought it particularly ironic that you’re posting his art. So if you know, please school me! I’m dying to know more about it!
It is coming up in one of the later posts this week, Gimpy.
I’ve very intrigued by him. Maybe it’s because he’s dutch like my family. I think he looks barely held together.
All I know is these things:
1) I know bugger all about art, contrast, colour and form. I like purple.
2) Vincent looks, to me, the untrained eye (I’m a music person myself), like he doesn’t like what he sees. He appears to be turning his nose up at his reflection – he doesn’t like what’s looking back at him or what he’s turned into like so many people.
3) The song “Vincent” (Starry starry night) by Don McLean is one of my favourites and I can play it on guitar.
4) He had tinnitis and that’s why his ear went walkies…is that right? It wasn’t a gift of love.
Maybe that’s all wrong and stuff but that’s just what I think! Maybe I should make a “crappy comment of the day award” for myself!
Nyz xo
I read your own comment on the painting, Swirling. I thought it was very bizarre that the look in his eyes doesn’t click with the clothes and the light on his face. He looks uncertain, afraid even. Is he living in constant dread of what might happen to him the next day?
Please, enlighten us if you can.