Skate Self Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh 1889

Self-Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh, oil on canvas 1889, depicts the artist against a dark background of swirling blue brushstrokes, turning to gaze hauntingly at the viewer, his painting palette and artist brushes in his hand. The deep blue-violet of his painters smock contrasts powerfully with the oranges, yellows and greens of his hair, beard and face, producing a strong effect of complementary colors amid the maelstrom of expressionist strokes of rapidly applied oil paint. In the summer of 1889 Van Gogh suffered a mental breakdown that required recovery at the asylum at Saint-Remy, and this self-portrait was the first work he executed upon release when he was unable to resume painting landscapes in the field. The unflattering treatment of his own appearance and emotional state evokes the frankly realistic self-portraits of his predecessor Rembrandt.