The artwork, titled “Portrait of Vincent van Gogh,” was created by the artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1887. This pastel on cardboard portrait is a demonstration of the Post-Impressionist movement and measures 54 by 45 centimeters. The genre of the artwork is a portrait, and it is part of the collection at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This particular piece captures the iconic artist Vincent van Gogh in a moment of reflection.
In the artwork, Vincent van Gogh is portrayed in profile, possibly seated at a table, with his head turned to the side, which creates a sense of depth and introspection. The use of pastels allows Toulouse-Lautrec to blend colors vividly, capturing both the figure of van Gogh and the ambience of the setting. There is a contrast between the warm hues of his face and the cooler, more varied strokes depicting the background. The light appears to be coming from behind the figure, possibly suggesting a source such as a window, which casts a soft glow on van Gogh’s form. The background includes architectural elements and what seems to be the glow of a moonlit night, potentially evoking the contemplation of the time of day.
The strokes and lines used by Toulouse-Lautrec impart a sense of texture and movement, characteristic of the Post-Impressionist style, which sought to convey more than a mere visual representation, aiming to imbue the work with emotion and a vivid sense of presence. The composition of the artwork draws the viewer’s attention to the calm and meditative expression on van Gogh’s face, suggesting a moment caught in time, with the surrounding elements complementing and enhancing the subject’s introspective demeanor.
