Self Portrait by Vincent van Gogh (1886/7, original size: 41x32.5cm, In the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago).

Van Gogh lived in Paris from 1886 to 1888. During these two years Van Gogh painted 24 self-portraits. This portrait was painted using a style similar to Pointillism, but doesn't stick strictly to dots only.

Van Gogh wrote to his sister, Wilhelmina Van Gogh in 1889: "I painted two pictures of myself lately, one of which has rather the true character, I think, although in Holland they would probably scoff at the ideas about portrait painting that are germinating here. ... I always think photographs abominable, and I don't like to have them around, particularly not those of persons I know and love.... photographic portraits wither much sooner than we ourselves do, whereas the painted portrait is a thing which is felt, done with love or respect for the human being that is portrayed."
(Quote source: Letter to Wilhelmina van Gogh, 19 September 1889)