Vincent Van Gogh

One of the most frequent and well-known subjects of van Gogh’s paintings was the artist himself. Van Gogh initially considered the idea of portrait painting as practical and one of the most consistent ways for an artist to provide for themselves and to buy supplies to continue their work, “I should succeed in replacing in goods the money spent…then, something practical I can do is portrait painting.” (van Gogh.) As van Gogh’s finances ran low, he was no longer able to pay models to pose for his portraits. Naturally, he decided to purchase a mirror and paint self-portraits. He came to realize that painting self-portraits was a fantastic method to sharpen his painting abilities and at the same time, a way to soul-search within himself, and look beyond pure physical appearance in his paintings; “"I am looking for a deeper likeness than that obtained by a photographer.” (van Gogh.)
Vincent van Gogh created over 43 self-portraits over the course of his lifetime, literally illustrating a timeline of his life. His timeline of self-portraits also display his progression as an artist and his influences, as he experiences new cultures and phenomena. His first colored self-portraits begin with dark, brooding colors, as is traditional for many Dutch artists, but as he moves to Paris and experiences the Impressionist movement, he slowly begins introducing vibrant colors into his work; thus beginning the formulation of his own self-taught style that would make him legendary. It’s also easy to note how van Gogh seems to physically weaken over the years, showcasing the intense mental and financial struggles he suffers throughout his life. Van Gogh also used these self-portraits to mark important moments in his life, often to reevaluate his life and take stock of himself. The most notable is “Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear” painted less than two weeks after his famed episode that resulted in mutilating part of his left ear. It’s very possible that van Gogh used these