Portrait of a Man 1888

Vincent van Gogh painted this oil on canvas portrait of an unknown man in France, likely in 1886. Van Gogh’s choice of subject is crucial here. Why depict someone unknown? The answer lies in the social context. Academic art of the time focused on portraits of the elite, reinforcing social hierarchies. Van Gogh, however, often chose ordinary people, sometimes even the working class. The sitter's slightly worn suit and tie suggest a lower-middle-class status. The bright green background, a color often associated with the bourgeoisie, might be read as a subtle critique. To truly understand this work, we would need to delve deeper into the Parisian art scene of the 1880s, examining exhibition records, art criticism of the time, and letters between artists. Only then can we fully appreciate how Van Gogh used portraiture to question established social norms, making a statement about who deserves to be seen and remembered.