Self-Portrait Dedicated to Paul Gauguin Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)

This is a self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh, painted in 1888. He depicts himself in a brown jacket with purple trim over a white shirt, adorned with a medal. His face, rendered in shades of yellow and green, is turned to the right, with his gaze directed outwards, almost challenging the viewer. The background is a vibrant, almost electric, turquoise-green, contrasting sharply with the darker tones of his attire and skin.
The painting is famously dedicated to Paul Gauguin, a fellow artist with whom van Gogh had a complex and ultimately tumultuous relationship. This dedication, and the intensity of the portrait itself, suggests a number of subtexts. The direct, almost confrontational gaze might be seen as van Gogh asserting his identity and artistic vision to Gauguin, perhaps in a moment of strain in their relationship. The use of color, particularly the piercing green background and the yellow-toned skin, is characteristic of van Goghs post-Impressionist style, aiming to convey emotion and psychological state rather than strict visual reality. The prominent medal could symbolize achievement or recognition, or perhaps a more personal meaning tied to his relationship with Gauguin. The overall feeling is one of intense introspection and a powerful, though perhaps troubled, self-awareness.