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Senior Conservator Lesley Stevenson views “Head of a Peasant Woman” alongside an X-ray image of the hidden Van Gogh self portrait. Photo: Neil Hanna via AP

Van Gogh self-portrait – with left ear intact – found hidden behind another painting

  • The image, thought to have been lost for over a century, was found on the back of another work when experts took an X-ray of the canvas before an exhibition
  • Van Gogh was known for turning canvases around and painting on the other side to save money
Art

A previously unknown self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh has been discovered behind another of the artist’s paintings, the National Galleries of Scotland said on Thursday.

The self-portrait was found on the back of Van Gogh’s Head of a Peasant Woman when experts at the Edinburgh gallery took an X-ray of the canvas ahead of an exhibition.

The work is believed to have been hidden for over a century, covered by layers of glue and cardboard when it was framed in the early 20th century.

Van Gogh was known for turning canvases around and painting on the other side to save money.

An X-ray image of the painting “Head of a Peasant Woman” (1885) by Vincent van Gogh reveals a self-portrait of the Dutch artist. Photo: Neil Hanna/National Galleries of Scotland via EPA-EFE

The portrait shows a bearded sitter in a brimmed hat. Experts said the subject was instantly recognisable as the artist himself, and is thought to be from his early work.

The left ear is clearly visible and Van Gogh famously cut his off in 1888.

Frances Fowle, a senior curator at the National Galleries of Scotland, said the discovery was “thrilling”.

“Moments like this are incredibly rare,” she said. “We have discovered an unknown work by Vincent van Gogh, one of the most important and popular artists in the world.”

Look closer, there’s a dead bug in this Van Gogh painting

The gallery said experts are evaluating how to remove the glue and cardboard without harming Head of a Peasant Woman.

Visitors to an upcoming Impressionist exhibit at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh can see an X-ray image of the self-portrait through a lightbox.

“A Taste for Impressionism” runs from July 30 to November 13.

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