Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat (obverse: The Potato Peeler)

This self-portrait captures Vincent van Gogh in 1887, a pivotal year when he moved to Paris and began to experiment with brighter colors. He looks directly at us, his face a mosaic of short, energetic brushstrokes in greens, blues, and oranges. The straw hat, a common motif in his work from this period, is rendered with thick, swirling impasto, creating a palpable texture that almost vibrates off the canvas. This small painting (just 16 by 12 1/2 inches) feels incredibly intimate, drawing us close to the artist's intense gaze. It is a striking example of his Post-Impressionist style, where color and brushwork convey emotion and light rather than just realistic representation. Interestingly, this canvas was reused; on the reverse side is an earlier work, "The Potato Peeler," from 1885, a testament to Van Gogh's thrifty nature and constant artistic exploration.