For many of Vincent van Gogh's admirers, his series of selfportraits - painted mainly in 1886 - 1889, the best part of his career - are among the favourites, as they have become iconic images for the world of 19th century European art, strikingly beautiful and profound compositions, as well as means to understand the turmoil and drama that Vincent faced during the last years of his life.
In 1886 began the most prolific period in his artistic life, and during the next three years Vincent van Gogh will paint several dozens works, including around 30 selfportraits, all in his mature and unique style. These selfportraits are a major part of his artistic universe, at a time when Vincent worked much more than before. Much harder, with great care to every detail, as if he knew he was on borrowed time. For him the selfportrait was a perfect exercise, a good way for introspection and, much more than that, a cheaper theme. For everybody knows that Vincent didn't manage to sell much during his lifetime - one or three works, experts disagree on the definite number - and without the help of his brother, Theo, he would have literally died of hunger. Theo provided him with money for food, rent, painting suplies. And it is safe to say he was maybe the only one who really believed in the artist.
So selfportraits were much cheaper for Vincent, because thus he didn't need to employ models, who might not have been too expensive, but they were way off his budget. So he spent several hours painting such works, and worked even harder after he managed to buy himself a new, much larger mirror. Although this might not seem such a great thing, Vincent was enthusiastic and even wrote to his brother Theo about it. Yet he never managed to sell, not even one of his selfportraits. He also often wrote about his desire of hiring models, not working from memory or painting landscapes and still lifes, for he wanted to capture on canvas not only the look, but also the essence of the characters. Always unsatisfied with his style and achievements, always wanting to do much more,
These selfportraits are simply fascinating for us today, as they capture the artist in such a critical time, imortalising several moments in his everyday life. But they become increasingly more profound, tragic and sad, as the blackness of disease slowly captured one of the greatest minds. If the first were casual, depicting him smiling or smoking his ever-present pipe - his greatest vice, aside painting - the later ones were tragic expression, if we only think about the ones with his ear cut off, after the dementia crisis that ended his friendship with Gauguin.
He also used to exchange selfportraits with the few artists who were very close to him, usually by sending them letters with drawings and sketches, rarely sending them paintings. It is fascinating to see how the artist's expression changed over these three final years. In a way, is like watching a movie being played fast-forward. A movie of degradation, suffering, loneliness and despair, the final years of an unique artist, who would be recognised as a master and a highly influential talent only after his death.
In 1890, at the end of his forces, he tried to keep on working, despite the fact that he sensed he couldn't do it anymore. He wrote his last letters to Theo, complaining that he couldn't go on, and in the end he commited suicide. He shot himself in the chest, survived, but the wound so much to severe and the artist died two days later.
Today his selfportraits are among the highest valued works of 19th century art. And Vincent van Gogh is considered one of the masters in the history of art.
Photo : wikipedia.org
August 2008
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