Self-Portrait with Straw Hat

Among the many self-portraits Van Gogh executed in Paris during 1887, this one with a straw hat is notable for its rigorous application of Divisionist technique. The work documents his systematic study of Seurat's color theory, which he was absorbing through direct observation of paintings and conversations with artists in Theo's circle. The straw hat was practical outdoor wear, but in the self-portraits it also functions as a prop that places him outdoors, in the light, engaged with nature — constructing an identity as a plein-air painter even when working in the studio. This Van Gogh Museum version is among the most technically adventurous of the straw hat group.

The background and hat are constructed entirely from short, parallel strokes in contrasting hues — orange and blue, yellow and violet — laid side by side rather than blended. The face, by contrast, is built with longer, more fluid marks.