Guess the Artist (Detroit Institute of Arts) #5!

This should be an easy one, but next weeks will be tougher – fair warning! Can you guess who the artist is?

A very distinct painting style for sure. It was a treat to see this in person. Can you imagine, the artist painted this about 136 years ago? #whoa

I know you’ve seen some of this artist’s paintings in your lifetime. Either in person (if you’re so fortunate) or in books/online. It sounds like this self portrait was done during one of the happier times of his life. Did you guess it?

A N S W E R :

Self-Portrait, 1887

Vincent van Gogh, Dutch, 1853-1890

Oil on artist board, mounted to wood panel

Unframed: 13 3/4 × 10 1/2 inches (34.9 × 26.7 cm)
20 1/2 × 17 3/8 × 2 5/8 inches (52.1 × 44.1 × 6.7 cm)

City of Detroit Purchase

Description from the Detroit Institute of Arts:

“For want of a better model,” Van Gogh chose to paint his own portrait on many occasions. While in Paris between 1886 and 1888, Van Gogh lightened his palette under the influence of the brilliant colors of the impressionists, but he soon reserved the use of such light colors to express particular moods. Van Gogh’s stay in Paris was a relatively happy one, and in this painting, created during the summer of 1887, he portrays himself with an almost light-hearted appearance.
Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA.org)

DIA WEBSITE | Instagram

Read stories Van Gogh‘s life HERE, from VanGoghMuseum.nl – such a good website!