Artwork
Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat
Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a portrait genre piece, the painting serves as a direct representation of the artist's likeness during his time in Paris in 1887.
The work depicts Vincent van Gogh in a self-portrait format, presenting the artist himself as the primary subject. Iconographically, the composition focuses on the figure of a man wearing a straw hat, an element explicitly identified in the work's title and descriptive records. As a portrait genre piece, the painting serves as a direct representation of the artist's likeness during his time in Paris in 1887.
The available records confirm the depiction of van Gogh and the specific attribute of the hat but do not provide further details regarding deeper symbolic interpretations beyond its function as a self-representation.
Technique & Style
Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat is executed in oil paint on canvas, measuring approximately 40 cm in height and 31.8 cm in width. The work dates to 1887 and is classified as a portrait, specifically a self-portrait depicting the artist wearing a straw hat. The support is a woven canvas ground, and the medium is oil paint, as indicated by the artwork's cataloguing.
History & Provenance
Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat was created by Vincent van Gogh in 1887, executed in oil paint on canvas. The painting is now held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is recorded under accession number 67.187.70a. It entered the museum's collection through the Adelaide Milton de Groot Bequest in 1967, having previously passed from the Hans Bammann Art Gallery to the collection of Justin K. Thannhauser.
The sources do not specify the circumstances of its original creation, any commission, or the precise dates of transfers between the listed private owners and the museum.
Legacy
Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat (1887) is an important work within the canon of modern self-portraiture. Its bold brushwork and vivid palette foreshadowed Expressionist techniques, while its intimate, unidealized depiction of the artist challenged traditional portrait conventions. The painting's prominence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection has cemented its reputation as a key example of Van Gogh's Paris period, often cited in exhibitions and publications exploring Post-Impressionism.
Its ownership history, passing through dealers such as Justin K. Thannhauser and collectors such as Adelaide Milton de Groot, further underscores its enduring cultural value.
Overview
This oil painting, titled "Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat," presents a close-up depiction of a man's face, prominently featuring a wide-brimmed straw hat. The artist's approach to self-representation is characterized by a direct and textural application of paint, emphasizing the material qualities of the medium. The work offers an intimate portrayal, focusing on the subject's features and the distinctive headwear through a vibrant and tactile style.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.
