A previously unknown self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh has just been discovered. It was hidden on the back of one of his other paintings and only through the use of X-ray technology was it uncovered for the first time.
Experts from the National Galleries of Scotland made the find behind one of his earlier works called Head of a Peasant Woman.
Lesley Stevenson, the galleries senior conservator said finding the artist “looking out at us” was a “shock”.
She added: "This is a significant discovery because it adds to what we already know about Van Gogh's life."
So much of Vincent’s life is a mystery, as he lived from 1853 to 1890 when he suddenly died.
How did Vincent Van Gogh die?
On July 27, 1980, Vincent shot himself in the chest with a revolver.
He did this in a field near his home of Auvers-sur-Oise, France, though it took two days for him to succumb to his injuries.
He passed away with his brother Theo at his bedside.
What led to Vincent Van Gogh’s death?
The weeks and months leading up to Vincent’s death were catalogued by the man himself as he wrote letters that revealed his mental instability.
In one such letter he wrote to his brother, Theo, just days before his death, he said: “My life, is attacked at the very root, my step also is faltering.”
He found his life to be one eternal struggle as his work was continually dismissed during his time.
Regardless, he set himself exceptionally high standards, only increasing his stress and fracturing his mental state.
He was unsure about his own future and felt like a failure, both as an artist and as a man.
Ironically, near the end of his life he was finally starting to receive recognition for his work, though following his suicide, his art started to be considered some of the best of his day and beyond.
