"Painting," wrote Van Gogh, "is the raft that can
take us safely to shore after the shipwreck." Painting sometimes calms
him. Slashing now comes with the brush; convulsive energy becomes
translated into the surging of his loaded brush; merciless insecurity
and anguish throb in intensive, ecstatic colour. He is looking in a
mirror, but it is as though he is painting from inside his head.
However, painting can as easily sweep him up to the edge and over it.By
the summer of 1890, there are no more self portraits; instead of
levelling a brush at the reflection of his face, he levels a gun.