| Vincent C Model, Myth & Human Being | | | | haunting and disquieting painting called "Self-Portrait |
| "Âit is difficult to know yourself, but it isn't | | | | Dedicated to Paul Gauguin," and the other is |
| easy to paint oneself either." Vincent van Gogh | | | | simply titled "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear." |
| From 1885 through 1890, van Gogh painted at | | | | The incident which caused van Gogh to slice off |
| least 30 self-portraits, an amazing number of | | | | most of an earlobe is possibly the most famous in |
| likenesses to complete in such a short time span. | | | | art history. During a violent disagreement with his |
| They represent his most active years as a | | | | friend Gauguin, Vincent heard the words "Kill him" |
| master artist, and all carry the distinctive van | | | | in that ear, which he opted to remove rather |
| Gogh intensity with which every picture he ever | | | | than obey. This great artist suffered throughout |
| made was imbued. | | | | his life from unruly emotional seizures and great |
| Many of his early self-portraits resemble the great | | | | mental strife which led him to enter an asylum for |
| self-portraits carried out by Rembrandt van Rijn in | | | | a year and then to commit suicide. |
| the 1600's. A comparison between the two elicits | | | | It is easy to romanticize such a bigger-than life |
| several points of similarities, such as the serious | | | | character whose work consistently creates |
| demeanor, elegant and dramatic lighting and a | | | | enormous impact in the viewer's heart and mind. |
| certain likeness in the visage itself. These are | | | | We say, "Oh you were misunderstood, but we |
| portraits of two master Dutch artists from vastly | | | | understand, Vincent." And indeed, we do |
| different times, but a viewer making such | | | | understand. The fact is, his greatest gift was the |
| comparisons tends to feel the two would have | | | | ability to make paintings that are at once |
| probably been great friends. | | | | tremendously moving and also simple enough to |
| A tour through Vincent's many self-portraits | | | | communicate with diamondlike clarity. |
| displays not only his ability to paint character in an | | | | Though largely unrecognized during his lifetime, |
| intensely personal way, but also his comfort with | | | | Van Gogh believed himself to be a true artist. His |
| different styles. During his brief but almost | | | | 37 years on this planet were not easy nor |
| supernaturally productive ten years as an artist, | | | | pleasant, being full of depressive and violent |
| van Gogh made the transition from realism to | | | | episodes. But if his body of self-portraits tell us |
| impressionism (especially pointalism) to | | | | anything, it is that he knew, loved and accepted |
| expressionism with nary a glitch. His own style | | | | himself as much as the beloved friends and |
| was quite firmly in place by the last few years of | | | | peasants he depicted with so much care and |
| his life, and is now either labeled "expressionistic" | | | | compassion. |
| or "post-impressionist." | | | | Visit the Life of Van Gogh website for more |
| Two of his most famous self-portraits would | | | | information on Van Gogh paintings, or to get out |
| never have been painted were it not for his friend | | | | own Biography of Vincent Van Gogh. |
| and eventual nemesis, Paul Gauguin. One is a | | | | |