Self-Portraits

Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890), Paris, January-June 1887

pencil, pen and ink, on paper, 31.1 cm x 24.4 cm
Credits (obliged to state): Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

On this sheet of paper, Van Gogh drew two complete self-portraits, plus a few details in the upper right. The upper left corner of the sheet is missing. A few pencil lines are visible under the missing section – probably part of a beard. So this seems likely to have been another small self-portrait.

In these drawings, Van Gogh used a great deal of hatchwork to show the shape of his face. He also used fine lines to render shadows, like those around and between his eyes. These may have been sketches for a painting; he drew himself several times from the same angle.

F-number

F1378r

JH-number

JH1197

Object number

d0432V1962r

Credits (obliged to state)

Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Dimensions

31.1 cm x 24.4 cm