Vincent van Gogh

The man staring out from this dark canvas, with his fiery red beard and steady eyes, is none other than Vincent van Gogh. The portrait was painted in 1886 by John Russell, an Australian artist who befriended Vincent while both were studying in Paris. Their friendship gave Russell a chance to show a side of Van Gogh that few ever saw: calm, focused, and deep in thought, far from the tormented image that would later grow around his name.

Russell worked here in a grounded, realistic manner, using deep shadowy tones and paying close attention to the shape and mood of Vincent's face. The style feels worlds apart from the vivid colors and restless brushstrokes Van Gogh himself would soon make famous. Interestingly, Vincent was fond of this picture. He held onto it and wrote about it kindly, saying it captured him well, which is a rare stamp of approval from such a demanding eye.

Today the painting hangs at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Made during a hopeful stretch before fame and struggle took over his life, it lets us meet Vincent as a young artist and a good friend, seen warmly through the eyes of someone who knew him.