T he painting in question, housed at the National Gallery of Art, was created by Van Gogh during his time at the St.-Rémy asylum, where he had voluntarily admitted himself following a mental breakdown. This particular artwork is one of his final self-portraits. During his stay at the asylum, Van Gogh experienced another collapse and was confined to his room for over a month, not even venturing into the garden. Once he regained the ability to paint, this canvas was the first he completed, seemingly in one uninterrupted session. Van Gogh firmly believed that only through work could he restore his health. Similar to two previous self-portraits, he is depicted holding the tools that signify his identity as a painter - a palette and brushes - and he is dressed in a painter's smock. Throughout his relatively short career, Van Gogh produced nearly 2,000 paintings and drawings, and wrote over 800 letters, most of which were addressed to his brother Théo, chronicling his artistic aspirations and struggles. He dedicated extensive time and effort to perfecting his craft.
On this canvas, the fervor and fragility of Van Gogh's life are conveyed through stark contrasts of color and restless brushstrokes. Thick lines of paint appear to radiate from his head, creating a wavering force field that is energized by his own intensity. The background serves as a backdrop for the complementary colors of his green-tinged face and orange hair, intensifying the overall image. Van Gogh described this portrait to Théo, stating, "I was thin and pale as a ghost. It is dark violet blue and the head whitish with yellow hair, so it has a color effect."
Around the same time, Van Gogh also worked on a second self-portrait. Although the background of this painting is animated with swirling brushstrokes, the color scheme is more subdued, giving the image a calmer appearance. However, the artist believed that the self-portrait discussed here truly captured his "true character."
Van Gogh really influences my artwork because of his amazing freedom with his brush strokes. Seriously, the way he used those thick, swirling strokes is just mind-blowing! It's like he doesn't care about conforming to traditional techniques and just lets loose on the canvas. I mean, who even needs precise details when you can have bold, expressive brushwork? Seeing Van Gogh's work makes me realize that art doesn't always have to be perfect or realistic. It can be emotional and spontaneous too. And that's what I love about it! So whenever I'm feeling restricted or stuck in my own artistic process, I turn to Van Gogh for inspiration, reminding myself to let go of expectations and embrace the freedom of expression through vibrant and dynamic brushstrokes.