The artwork, “Self-portrait with Halo,” is an oil on wood painting created by Paul Gauguin in 1889. This self-portrait exemplifies the Cloisonnism art movement and measures 72.9 x 51.3 cm. Gauguin completed this piece in Pont-Aven, France, and it is currently housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The artwork showcases Gauguin’s distinctive use of bold outlines and flat areas of color, which are characteristic of the Cloisonnism style.
In the artwork, Paul Gauguin depicts himself with a halo, an attribute often reserved for saints and other holy figures, suggesting a complex interplay of irony and ego. His expression is somber and introspective, and the yellow garment he wears is vivid against the bold red background. The lines are strong and deliberate, emphasizing the contours of his face and clothing. Gauguin incorporates elements of the natural world through the branch with green leaves and red fruit that intersects with the composition, adding a further layer of symbolism to this enigmatic self-portrait.
