Two Self-Portraits and Several Details 1886

This drawing of two self-portraits and several details was created by Vincent van Gogh, likely in France in the late 1880s. Self-portraiture allowed artists like Van Gogh to represent themselves and create the persona they wanted to project. The self-portrait emerged as a popular art form during the 19th century, corresponding to an increased interest in individualism and self-expression. Looking at the details of the face and the two distinct portraits, we might ask what kind of man Van Gogh wanted to appear to be. Was this how he wanted to be remembered by posterity? How do the visual codes of the images – the set of his jaw, the angle of his brow, the set of his eyes – create meaning? Understanding such images requires careful analysis of art historical resources like letters and biographical information, with careful consideration of the social and institutional forces that shaped not only Van Gogh's life but the way that art was taught, exhibited, and discussed.