Conserved Van Gogh Self-Portrait to be Exhibited in London
December 10 2021
Picture: Kröller-Müller Museum
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Art Newspaper have published an interesting article on news that a recently conserved Self-Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh will be included within the Courtauld Gallery's upcoming Van Gogh Self-Portraits exhibition (opening in February 2022). The work in question is the 1887 Self Portrait owned by the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands (pictured).
According to the article:
The self-portrait was varnished in the mid-20th century and this coating eventually became yellowed and dirty, obscuring much of Van Gogh’s detail and deadening its full impact. A photograph of the work nearly half completed, in November, shows quite what a difference this makes.
Although most of Van Gogh’s paintings are on canvas, this was done on cardboard. Hardly surprisingly, the edges of the board have become fragile, so earlier this year it was decided to mount the cardboard on a supportive backing.
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Many of Van Gogh’s paintings have suffered colour changes, particularly with fading red pigments, due to light exposure. The Kröller-Müller self-portrait is no exception, and traces of the original stronger tones can be seen on the very edge of the board, where the image was protected by the framing.
