An unknown self-portrait believed to be by the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh has been discovered by chance in a Scottish museum. It is “very likely” to be a drawing by the famous artist, said the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh.
The image, which shows a bearded man wearing a scarf and hat, was discovered when van Gogh’s Head of a Peasant Woman in a White Cap (1885) was being X-rayed in preparation for an exhibition. The self-portrait is on the back of the canvas.
It was covered with several layers of glue and cardboard, which were probably attached at the beginning of the 20th century for an exhibition. It is known that van Gogh used the reverse side of paintings to save money.
The left ear, which the painter cut off in 1888, is clearly visible. The drawing must therefore have been created beforehand. It is probably an early work and one of the first attempts at self-painting. The gallery wants to give visitors a glimpse of the sketch using a custom-made light box. Curator Frances Fowle was enthusiastic.
“Moments like that are incredibly rare,” she said. “We have discovered an unknown work by Vincent van Gogh, one of the most important and well-known artists in the world.” This is an unimaginable gift for Scotland.
Experts do not rule out that the works can be separated. However, removing the glue and cardboard in particular poses a challenge so as not to damage the painting on the other side.
