Vincent van Gogh: Self-Portrait with Pipe and Straw Hat

It was painted in August 1888 by Vincent van Gogh in Arles. This sketchy self-portrait is an example of the amazingly rapid progress Van Gogh made in Paris.

The summery palette and loose brushwork betray the influence of the Impressionists. The smock, hat and background consist of large, outlined areas of color. The face and beard are built up in more detail using different tones.

Vincent painted this self-portrait in Paris prior to his departure for Arles. It shows him already imagining himself as a straw hatted man of the South.

Like all of van Gogh's self-portraits, this painting is a record of the artist's sense of identity at the time of the painting.
Vincent van Gogh: Self-Portrait with Pipe and Straw Hat