Self-Portrait with Straw Hat and Pipe - Vincent van Gogh

A striking self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh, painted in Paris in 1887, featuring his signature expressive brushwork and a shift toward a lighter, more colourful palette.

Painted during his time in Paris, this self-portrait captures Vincent van Gogh at a period of artistic transition. The work demonstrates his engagement with the colour theories of the era, moving away from the darker, earth-toned palette of his earlier Dutch period. The artist depicts himself wearing a straw hat, his gaze directed slightly away from the viewer, with a pipe held between his lips. The application of paint is characteristic of his approach, featuring short, rhythmic brushstrokes that build form and texture across the canvas. The background is composed of deep, shadowed tones, which contrast with the lighter, golden hues of the hat and the cooler blue of his garment. This juxtaposition creates a sense of volume and presence. Van Gogh produced numerous self-portraits throughout his career, often using them as a means to refine his technical skills when models were unavailable or too costly to hire. In this specific composition, the focus remains on the psychological state of the subject. The lighting is focused on the face, drawing attention to the structure of his features and the intensity of his expression. The brushwork is deliberate, showing the influence of Neo-Impressionist techniques while maintaining the expressive quality that defines his body of work. This print reproduces the textures of the original oil paint, allowing for a close examination of the artist's mark-making process. It is a study of light, colour, and the internal life of the artist, presented with the directness that characterises his output from the late 1880s.