Self-Portrait with Glass

In this 1887 self-portrait, Van Gogh depicts himself holding a glass — an unusual still-life element introduced into an otherwise conventional self-examination format. The Paris period produced a remarkable variety of self-portrait approaches as Van Gogh cycled through different techniques and experimentations, sometimes within weeks of each other. The glass may reference the cafe and social culture of Montmartre where he spent much of his time, or it may simply be a compositional device to vary the familiar format.

Short, divided strokes in complementary pairs animate the background while the face is treated with somewhat longer, more directional marks. The glass element introduces a reflective surface that breaks the otherwise portrait-focused composition.