Vincent van Gogh

To celebrate The Courtauld’s forthcoming landmark display of the troubled Dutch master’s self-portraits, STEVE PILL looks at the stories behind 10 of the most dramatic works on display

- STEVE PILL

1. Self-Portrait with Felt Hat

December 1886 – January 1887

Oil on canvas, 41.5x32.5cm

Vincent van Gogh painted at least 35 self-portraits during his lifetime and the majority of those were made during his time in Paris. It wasn’t vanity that inspired these reflective studies, but rather a desire to hone his techniques coupled with “want of a better model”.

Having arrived in the French capital in March 1886, the artist shared a Montmartre apartment with his art dealer brother Théo and began studies in the atelier of the historical painter Fernand Cormon, who would also count Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and later Chaim Soutine among his pupils. This early self-portrait was painted over a nude study that Vincent had made during his initial studies with Cormon.

2. Self-Portrait

March-June 1887

Oil on cardboard, 41x33cm

That this neo-Impressionist study was made on card suggests much about the artist’s intentions. This was an experiment, not destined for the Paris Salon – which makes the fact that it has survived more than 130 years even more remarkable.