I’ve decided to write about Van Gogh self-portrait (1889) due to the significant impact it had on me at such a prolific time in my own personal life. Gogh created many self-portraits over his short career, due to his financial situation he was unable to hire models to sit for him, but on an introspective level this allowed him to fine tune his painting skills, but also to ask the necessary questions about ones own identity.

At first glance upon visiting this piece, we’re struck with this character who is quite anxiously well prepared in his suit. The emerald green that projects from the subjects eyes strikes us with this demoralizing tone, that could quite honestly make us as the viewer question our own sense of identity as

Self-Portrait 1889 Oil on canvas H. 65; W. 54.5 cm Paris, Musée d’Orsay Gift of Paul and Marguerite Gachet, the children of Dr Gachet, 1949© Musée d’Orsay, dist.RMN-Grand Palais / Patrice Schmidt