À propos de l’œuvre
Portrait de Théo van Gogh, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · Summer 1887 · Paris
Self-portrait or portrait of Théo, F294Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
A red-haired man wearing a yellow straw hat stands out against a blue-green background. His dark jacket bust is described with unusual meticulousness in this very small vertical format.
Look at the work
A pocket portrait focuses the look, the hat and the color
The head occupies almost the entire upper half. The yellow edge of the hat forms a wide curve above the face, while the beard, bow and lapels of the jacket multiply the red and blue accents.
The blue-green background remains close to the model and does not suggest any location. This absence of decoration, combined with the tight framing, gives the image the direct presence of a painted photograph.
Self-portrait or portrait of Théo van Gogh is an oil on cardboard of 19 × 14.1 cm painted in Paris during the summer of 1887. The work F294/JH1209 is kept at the Van Gogh Museum under the number s0157V1962.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
Long considered a self-portrait, this painting has also been identified as a possible portrait of Theo. The Van Gogh Museum today retains a double title: the strong resemblance of the brothers does not allow us to decide with certainty.
The very small format requires precise painting
At only 19 × 14.1 cm, the face, collar and hat are detailed with fine touches. The museum brings this meticulousness closer to the immediate presence of photographic portraits.
The yellow of the hat activates the blue background
The light straw stands out clearly against the cold range. Small yellow and orange dashes in the beard prevent the contrast from remaining isolated.
The jacket contains a richer range than it seems
Blue, green, black and brown build the lapels and the knot. The contours are not simply black: they participate in the colorful dialogue of the entire surface.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
The official title maintains two possible identifications. References F294/JH1209, inventory s0157V1962 and exceptionally small dimensions unambiguously identify the painting, but not definitively its model.
Vincent or Theo: the museum does not decide
The two brothers were very similar and there is no decisive document to identify the model. The current conservative designation therefore retains both hypotheses.
A painting of only 19 × 14.1 cm
Its small scale explains the tight framing and fine details. She immediately distinguished it from the larger self-portraits executed in Paris.
Painting more than a mechanical resemblance
The museum reminds us that Van Gogh wanted to show what human beings have beyond what the camera can capture.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy must respect the tiny vertical framing, the width of the straw hat, the side gaze, the red beard, the light bow and the deep blues of the jacket.
- The large yellow straw hat
- Slightly shifted look
- The red beard very finely touched
- The light knot under the chin
- The compact blue-green background
Work sheet
| Title | Self-portrait or portrait of Théo, F294 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | Summer 1887 |
| Place of creation | Paris |
| Original technique | Oil on cardboard |
| Dimensions | 19 × 14.1 cm |
| Inventory | F294· JH1209· s0157V1962 |
| Conservation | Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A small enigmatic portrait with frank and refined contrasts
Straw yellow, petrol blue, gray green, red and ivory create an intimate presence for an office, library or portrait wall.
Frequently asked questions
Before ordering
Is this a canvas print?
No. Each reproduction is manually painted in oil on canvas. Brushstrokes and material variations belong to the final result.
How is the visual reference chosen?
The official public domain image of the Van Gogh Museum, 5,430 × 7,378 px, was reduced to 2,208 × 3,000 px and then encoded as a real WebP.
Can I check the result before shipping?
Yes. Photographs of the finished painting are sent to you; you can request alterations before validating the shipment.
Are custom formats possible?
Yes. The format can be adapted to your wall while maintaining the proportions and balance of the original composition.
