Van Gogh, Vincent (1853-1890)
Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat (F 365v, JH 1354)
1887
Oil on canvas, 40.6 x 31.8 cm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
(obverse: The Potato Peeler)
Van Gogh produced more than twenty self-portraits during his Parisian sojourn (1886–88). Short of funds but determined nevertheless to hone his skills as a figure painter, he became his own best sitter: “I purposely bought a good enough mirror to work from myself, for want of a model.” This picture, which shows the artist’s awareness of Neo-Impressionist technique and color theory, is one of several that are painted on the reverse of an earlier peasant study. (MET)