Vincent van Gogh: Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear, Easel and Japanese Print (Cropped), Oil on Canvas, 60 × 49 cm, Painted in Arles, France, January 1889. Courtauld Institute Galleries, London.
The troubled Dutch artist became obsessed with his subjects and returned to them again and again, painting near duplicates of sunflowers or cypress trees. With manic brushstrokes and dramatic flourishes of his palette knife, van Gogh carried Post-Impressionism into new realms. He received little recognition during his life, but now his work sells for millions and is reproduced on posters, t-shirts, and coffee mugs. Even a feature-length animated film celebrates van Gogh's compelling images.
