Self-Portrait
Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Year Composed: 1889
Artistic Movement: Post-Impressionism
Nationality: Netherlands
Floor Found in Château: Second Floor
Year Composed: 1889
Artistic Movement: Post-Impressionism
Nationality: Netherlands
Floor Found in Château: Second Floor
About the Artwork
Vincent van Gogh's Self-portrait was one of about 40 versions that he composed throughout his career. This particular version was most likely one of his last versions, and it is not one that highlights realism or beauty within the artist's life. The iconic swirls surrounding van Gogh as well as his piercing expression help to visually form the appearance of delusion and mental instability within the mind of the artist. Van Gogh either was admitted or admitted himself into a few different mental hospitals and asylums, seeking assistance for his instability. His artwork, especially this Self-portrait, portray the roller coaster of emotions, thoughts, and feelings that ultimately led van Gogh to his unfortunate suicide.
About the Artist
Vincent van Gogh was one of the most influential historical figures of Western art. Most of his artwork came in the last several years of his life, and included portraits, self-portraits, landscapes, and still-life paintings. His artworks were very expressive with the bright palette and the loose, painterly brushstrokes. Over 2,000 of his works of art became the influential and inspirational cornerstone for modern works of art, including his Still Life: Vase with Fourteen Sunflowers (1887), The Night Café (1888), and his Starry Night (1889).
About the Movement
Self-Portrait was composed in Post-Impressionist Age of art. As a subset of Impressionism, Post-Impressionism (also spelled Postimpressionism) was mostly a French movement toward the end of the 19th Century (or the latter decades in the 1800s). As a way to counter the Impressionist use of naturalism in their light and color, Post-Impressionist artists used a more abstract color palette, where the colors were more symbolic than natural. Some of the most famous Post-Impressionist artists included Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat, and Vincent van Gogh.
Location of Original Work of Art: Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France
Vincent van Gogh's Self-portrait was one of about 40 versions that he composed throughout his career. This particular version was most likely one of his last versions, and it is not one that highlights realism or beauty within the artist's life. The iconic swirls surrounding van Gogh as well as his piercing expression help to visually form the appearance of delusion and mental instability within the mind of the artist. Van Gogh either was admitted or admitted himself into a few different mental hospitals and asylums, seeking assistance for his instability. His artwork, especially this Self-portrait, portray the roller coaster of emotions, thoughts, and feelings that ultimately led van Gogh to his unfortunate suicide.
About the Artist
Vincent van Gogh was one of the most influential historical figures of Western art. Most of his artwork came in the last several years of his life, and included portraits, self-portraits, landscapes, and still-life paintings. His artworks were very expressive with the bright palette and the loose, painterly brushstrokes. Over 2,000 of his works of art became the influential and inspirational cornerstone for modern works of art, including his Still Life: Vase with Fourteen Sunflowers (1887), The Night Café (1888), and his Starry Night (1889).
About the Movement
Self-Portrait was composed in Post-Impressionist Age of art. As a subset of Impressionism, Post-Impressionism (also spelled Postimpressionism) was mostly a French movement toward the end of the 19th Century (or the latter decades in the 1800s). As a way to counter the Impressionist use of naturalism in their light and color, Post-Impressionist artists used a more abstract color palette, where the colors were more symbolic than natural. Some of the most famous Post-Impressionist artists included Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat, and Vincent van Gogh.
Location of Original Work of Art: Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France