The first self-portraits Van Gogh paints are in a realistic style and in fairly sombre colours. This way he hopes to be commissioned for more portraits to earn a living. When he does not succeed in doing so, he starts to paint in an increasingly free manner. He experiments with colour, form and light and varies his brushstrokes. In this portrait the colours are still fairly subdued. Soft blues and greens dominate the painting. On the other hand, the quick brushstrokes are rather exuberant - especially in the background - and add a vivid and dynamic quality to the work.
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