Vincent van Gogh's 1889 Self-portrait is one of his most psychologically penetrating works, created during his stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The painting captures the artist's intense gaze through swirling brushstrokes of blues and greens, set against a background that seems to pulse with ethereal energy. His distinctive red beard and penetrating blue eyes dominate the composition, while his green-tinged skin hints at his fragile state of mind.
The technique showcases van Gogh's characteristic impasto style, with thick, directional brushstrokes that create a sense of movement and emotional turbulence. The artist chose a palette of cool blues and greens contrasted with warmer ochres and rusty reds, reflecting both his inner turmoil and artistic innovation. This particular self-portrait was painted during a period of relative stability in his mental health, allowing him to work with remarkable clarity and purpose.
What makes this self-portrait particularly compelling is that it was created shortly after van Gogh's infamous ear incident and subsequent hospitalisation. Rather than depicting himself as a patient, he chose to present himself as a painter, wearing his working clothes and fixing the viewer with an unflinching stare. The spiralling patterns in the background echo the artistic style he developed in his later years, where nature's rhythms and his emotional state merged in expressive brushwork. This work represents both his technical mastery and his deep self-examination during a pivotal moment in his life.
