The loose and expressive brushstrokes typical of Van Gogh are clearly visible; the strokes are both choppy and meandering, sometimes becoming soft and diffuse, creating tension between otherwise clearly marked boundaries.
After cutting off part of his left earlobe during a manic attack in Arles, Van Gogh painted Self-Portrait with a bandaged ear while recovering and reflecting on his illness. He believed that painting would help bring balance back to his life, demonstrating the important role that artistic creation played for him. The painting testifies to the artist's renewed strength and control in his art, as the composition is depicted with unusual realism, with all facial features clearly modeled and careful attention paid to the different textures of skin, fabric and wood. The artist stands in front of an easel with a mostly blank canvas and a Japanese print hanging on the wall. The loose and expressive brushstrokes typical of Van Gogh are clearly visible; the strokes are both choppy and meandering, sometimes becoming soft and diffuse, creating tension between otherwise clearly marked boundaries. The bold outlines of his coat and hat mimic the linear quality of the Japanese print behind the artist. At the same time, Van Gogh used the technique of impasto, i.e. the continuous application of wet paint, to develop a richly textured surface that enhances the depth and emotional power of the canvas. This self-portrait, one of many Van Gogh created throughout his career, has an intensity unparalleled in its time, evident in the candid way in which the artist depicts his self-inflicted wound, as well as in the evocative manner in which he the scene reproduces, is expressed. Combining influences as diverse as the loose brushstrokes of the Impressionists and the strong contours of Japanese woodcuts, Van Gogh achieved a truly unique form of expression in his paintings.