Tag: exhibition

Scottish photographer Stew Bryden to launch debut solo exhibition at Native Edinburgh

One of Scotland’s most celebrated photographers Stew Bryden is set to host his debut solo showcase at lifestyle aparthotel, Native Edinburgh this November. 

This new creative collaboration will see ten striking pieces shot by Bryden and displayed in Counter by Native Edinburgh, for all to enjoy. Running from Thursday, November 3rd, the exhibit is free to attend, and whilst there guests can discover their hidden coffee and cocktail speakeasy – Counter. The perfect backdrop for the stunning exhibition. 

Bryden, who is known for his celebrity, fashion and portrait shots, will launch the boutique hotel’s Artist in Residence series that seeks out programming to ignite creative imagination, with an ethos to create great places, with great people, in great areas. 

Native Aparthotels are spaces to entertain and be entertained and this new initiative is sure to impress with a ten piece collection that will be on display from Thursday, November 3rd until the end of the year. 

At the Edge of Things is in homage to Virginia Woolf’s most experimental work, The Waves: an exploration of the trinity shared between individuality, the self and community.

An iridescent display of eclectic suits, sequin-adorned cocktail dresses and layered outerwear, the visual captures each look within its own habitat — far removed from each other and yet merged into one singular narrative.

As spoken word plucked straight from Woolf’s novel plays over a psychedelic harmony, the images and film flawlessly exudes the themes of its muse: portraying multiple stories merged into one, a unity between the self and other.

Much like fashion itself, the work(s) bear a compelling power that celebrates our limited time on earth.

Stewart Bryden gained his Hons Degree in Glasgow, Scotland before moving to New York City, working within the Chinatown based studio of world-renowned American photographer and artist Ryan Mcginley.

Now based between London, Berlin and Scotland, Stewart has gained commissions and continues to work with some of the world’s most up and coming and leading brands, publications and agencies. He’s shot for the likes of Fendi, Gucci, Max Mara, LV, and editorial clients include Wonderland, Man about town and Clash Magazine. 

Olivia Immesi, Managing Director of Native Places, said: “Stewart is a true visual tastemaker and it’s such a pleasure to have him as our first Artist in Residence at Native Edinburgh.

“We’re excited to champion his work and host an exclusive celebration of creative photography here in Edinburgh.” 

Stew Bryden, owner of Stewart Bryden said: “As a visual artist it’s always exciting to see your work exhibited, more so with this being my debut solo residency.

“These images and accompanying film were a true passion project and collaboration with some incredibly talented individuals, I’m very proud of the work and for Native places to approach me as their debut artist in residence is very exciting”

Stewart Bryden’s At The Edge of Things will be on display in Counter at Native Edinburgh from Thursday, November 3rd until the end of the year. It’s free to attend and Counter is open seven days a week from 8am – 1am. 

To enjoy a stay, book directly with Native aparthotels, by heading to https://www.nativeplaces.com/

New Museum of Edinburgh exhibition celebrates Caribbean culture

RESPECT!, an exciting new exhibition, has opened at the Museum of Edinburgh. The exhibition is a celebration of the culture of Caribbean Scottish people through museum objects, poetry and film and has been created in collaboration with the Edinburgh Caribbean Association.

The exhibition explores what it is like to grow up in the Caribbean, what it means to be Caribbean, links with Scotland and how Caribbean food and music has influenced British culture. The items on display have been chosen by members of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association to share their stories with museum visitors. A Spotify playlist has also been created so visitors can enjoy a full range of Caribbean music.

The exhibition is part of a £250,000 community-led collections research project, Exchange, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in partnership with the National Museums Scotland and Royal Museums Greenwich. Exchange | National Museums Scotland (nms.ac.uk)

Cllr Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener at City of Edinburgh Council said: “Our Museum of Edinburgh celebrates the history of Edinburgh and all the communities who live in the city.

“This wonderful new exhibition has been a community led project, exploring the collections of our Museum of Childhood and the connections between Edinburgh and the Caribbean.

“Visitors to the Museum can enjoy a celebration of the culture of Caribbean Scottish people through museum objects, poetry and film and has been created in collaboration with the Edinburgh Caribbean Association. I would like to thank the association members for their time, creativity and generosity.”

Lisa Williams, Edinburgh Caribbean Association said: “It’s been a wonderful experience collaborating with Museums & Galleries Edinburgh.

“We learned a lot from each other and forged friendship and understanding along the way.”

Curator Lyn Stevens, said: “It has been a tremendous privilege to work with the Edinburgh Caribbean Association.

“The group have shared their knowledge and expertise generously with museum staff and the result is a fascinating insight into the many different Caribbean cultures and what it is like to live in Britain and maintain traditions and a sense of identity.

“I have learnt so much working with them and I am looking forward to our visitors enjoying this wonderful exhibition.”

Dr John Giblin, Keeper of Global Arts, Cultures and Design at National Museums Scotland: “Thanks to a generous grant from the AHRC, the Exchange project has allowed organisations around the UK to work with communities who have historically been marginalised in museum and gallery displays to explore experiences of empire, migration, and life in Britain through their collections.

“Many hundreds of people have come together over the past year to reveal and share a wider range of stories and perspectives, and Respect! Caribbean life in Edinburgh is the culmination of a rich, thoughtful and productive collaboration between a museum and a community group.”

Our Museum of Edinburgh and Museum of Childhood champion local Edinburgh history and Edinburgh communities. The City of Edinburgh council is working to diversify museum collections as part of the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review. New acquisitions of dolls, books and magazines have been made as part of this project to add to the Museum of Childhood collections.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a Spotify playlist Respect! Caribbean Life in Edinburgh.

A wide-ranging events programme has been arranged alongside the exhibition.

For up-to-date information about events, and details of how to book, please visit the Museums & Galleries Edinburgh website.

Ferryhill children put their Thinking Caps on

Exhibition now on display at the Museum of Edinburgh

The Put Your Thinking Cap On Exhibition, a collaboration between youth Samba band Pulse of the Place and Ferryhill Primary School, is now on display at the Museum of Edinburgh.

Inspired by the drumming sessions hosted by Rohan Seilman at Ferryhill Primary School and spurned on by an invitation to perform in a music video for the Edinburgh Festival Carnival, the exhibition shows portraits of students wearing their ‘thinking caps’ that were used at the Pulse of the Place performance. 

The headgear was designed and fashioned by students with guidance and oversight from teacher and art specialist Dr Anke-Beate Stahl. The materials used were papier mâché, paper, wire, straws, pipe cleaners, pompoms, and glue. This provided an opportunity for pupils to express themselves creatively and experiment with different designs.

Many more pupils performed for Pulse of the Place than those whose portraits are displayed at the exhibition and their contribution should also be recognised. The portraits were shot in the school dining hall with this being the first experience of its kind for many students.

Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener said: This exhibition represents an important addition to our collection of community-led displays and showcases the innovation and talent of our young people here in Edinburgh.

“I am sure this exhibition will be well-received by visitors to the Museum of Edinburgh. I would like to thank the pupils and teachers of Ferryhill Primary School and Pulse of the Place for undertaking this dynamic project, Councillor for Inverleith Ward, Hal Osler for her brokering and championing of this exhibition and to Museums & Galleries colleagues for their ongoing hard work.

Dr Anke-Beate Stahl, art specialist and teacher at Ferryhill Primary School said: “This exhibition highlights the creativity that our pupils can demonstrate when given the extra time, space, and specialist support.

“Connecting music and visual arts with the bonus of a public display is a great learning experience for the children.”

Inverleith councillor Hal Osler said: “I am so unbelievably proud of the pupils of @Ferryhill_PS who are presently appearing in an exhibition at the Museum of Edinburgh. Thanks to all involved – the exhibition looks fantastic and it’s well worth a view”

The exhibition runs until February 26, 2023 and is located in the community display area of the Museum of Edinburgh on the ground floor. 

National Museum of Scotland asks public for memories of famous Scottish designer

The National Museum of Scotland is calling for memories of famous artist and designer Bernat Klein ahead of a major exhibition of his work opening next month. Klein (1922 – 2014) was born in Yugoslavia (now Serbia) but settled in the Scottish Borders where he lived and worked for over 40 years. 

Drawing inspiration from the landscape around Galashiels and collaborating closely with skilled Scottish manufacturers, Scotland and its textile industry were central to his success. 

Curators hope to capture the stories of those who knew, worked with or admired Klein in his adopted homeland. From visiting his shops or producing fabrics, to wearing his spectacular pieces or completing a Klein knitting pattern, anyone who would like to share their story is encouraged to get in touch by email at info@nms.ac.uk with their memories and pictures. 

In the centenary year of his birth, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour (5 Nov 2022 – 23 April 2023) will explore the life and varied career of one of the 20th century’s leading forces in Modernist design.

He is renowned for innovative couture textiles created for the likes of Chanel, Dior and Balmain, and his work was adored by royalty and fashion editors alike. He also produced fabrics for interiors, designed ready-to-wear collections and worked as a colour consultant and industrial designer. 

Lisa Mason, Assistant Curator of Modern & Contemporary Design at National Museums Scotland said: “Bernat Klein’s philosophy influenced fashion, fine art, interior design, architecture and colour theory and continues to inspire artists and designers today. 

“He chose Scotland to build not just his home, but his business, and we’d love to hear more from anyone who remembers his time here.” 

Personal accounts will be collated by National Museums Scotland and may be shared on the Museums’ digital channels and social media accounts.  


Bernat Klein: Design in Colour 
5 November 2022 to 23 April 2023 
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh 
Admission: Free 

nms.ac.uk/designincolour 
#BernatKlein 

Tickets for Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder go on sale tomorrow

Tickets for the Scottish premier of Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder at the National Museum of Scotland go on sale tomorrow, 4 October 2022. 

This ground-breaking new exhibition, which runs from 9 December 2022 to 1 May 2023, will explore the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who and will give fans a chance to experience the Doctor’s adventures from a scientific perspective.  

To celebrate tickets going on sale, the TARDIS materialised in the Grand Gallery at the National Museum of Scotland this morning. The TARDIS is just one of a host of real props from the series that will feature in the exhibition.

Visitors to Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder will also come face to face with the Doctor’s most famous foes in the Monster Vault, including Cybermen, Weeping Angels and Daleks. 

Produced by leading experiential design experts Sarner International under license from BBC Studios, this exhibition invites fans of all ages to explore the role science has played in the world’s longest running action-adventure show. The eight zones set within this educational exhibition cover a diverse selection of exciting scientific topics while drawing in content from across the full canon of Doctor Who. 

A range of hands-on immersive experiences and interactive features take visitors on a journey through Cosmic Curiosities, a TARDIS Tech room and the science behind time travel asking whether it really is possible.

Actor, director and author Mark Gatiss – writer of several episodes of Doctor Who – will narrate the exhibition, guiding this journey through space and time.  

Mark Gatiss said: “So many people who have gone on to work in science have had their interest piqued by watching Doctor Who, and one of the amazing things about the show is its ability to make us wonder.

“I’m thrilled to be part of the exhibition and I do hope as many curiously minded people as possible take the opportunity to visit when it arrives at the National Museum of Scotland.”   

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder will offer a thrilling exploration of science for both established fans of the TV show and newcomers alike. The exhibition premiered at National Museums Liverpool’s World Museum, where it will run until 30 October. 

Alison Cromarty, Head of Exhibitions & Design at National Museums Scotland, said: “We are delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for this cutting-edge scientific exhibition.

“We know visitors of all ages will be keen to be among the first in Scotland to experience Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder and are tremendously excited that the countdown is now on to opening in December.” 

Ed Cookson, Projects Director, Sarner International: “For almost 60 years Doctor Who has been exploring mind-bending scientific developments.

“The iconic characters, monsters, stories, and settings of the television series provide a perfect guide through the wondrous worlds of space, time and science.”  

Doctor Who has strong Scottish connections. To date three Scots have played the role of The Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, David Tennant and Peter Capaldi (the Seventh, Tenth and Twelfth Doctors respectively) with a fourth, Ncuti Gatwa, recently announced as the new Doctor.

Other Scottish cast members have included Companions Karen Gillan and Neve McIntosh as well as Michelle Gomez as Missy (The Master), with Alan Cumming having also appeared recently as King James VI & I. Another Scot, Steven Moffat, was showrunner from 2008 to 2017. 

The National Museum of Scotland is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery in mounting the exhibition. Tickets for Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder will be available to book at www.nms.ac.uk/doctorwho
 
National Museums Scotland Members free. 

Book in advance to save, general admission: Adult £12-16.50, Over 60s £11-15.50, Student, Unemployed, Disabled, Young Scot £10-14.50, Child 5–15 £8-12.50, Under 5s Free 

10% off family bookings* 

Discounts available for groups of 10 or more 

 *10% off when you buy up to three Child 5–15 ticket alongside up to any two Adult, Over 60s, Student, Unemployed, Disabled, Young Scot tickets, with a maximum of five tickets in total. Cannot be used in conjunction with National Museums Scotland Member tickets or any other discount or promotional offer.

Blind artists to make a splash at Central Library

A group of blind and partially sighted artists will be showcasing their work at Edinburgh’s Central Library next month [3rd – 31st October].

‘Over and Under the Sea’ will be an exhibition of sea-themed art works created by The Hillside Visually Impaired Art Group. The artists are all members of classes held by volunteers from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland at its Edinburgh headquarters.

The group has come together to create a series of sea inspired panels, and sculptures of sea creatures ranging from a terrifying piranha to a stocky starfish. The remainder of the exhibition consists of a diversity of individual works created by the members. Some of the artists paint in acrylic, and others model in clay, using a variety of textured, and hence tactile, materials. 

“The exhibition was originally booked to run in 2020 but was postponed for two years,” says Andy Richie, one of the art group volunteers. “When the group was able to meet again, there were quite a few members whose sight condition had deteriorated significantly, but they were all undaunted.

“We have spent the last 12 months helping them learn new techniques and developing new styles. Many were working right up to the last of our art sessions but we are able to say that all 12 artists will have at least one piece displayed in the exhibition.”

The exhibition will be hosted in the Art & Design library within Central Library on George IV Bridge from Monday 3rd October to Monday 31st October. The opening hours are:

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: 10am – 8pm

Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 10am – 5pm.

The artists who will exhibit their work are:

Alan McIntyre

Alex MG

Anne Dignan

Dorothy Cunningham

Fiona Powell

Kasia Jakimczuk

Paul Edwards

Muriel Matheson

Stacey Scott

Sue Marshall

Susan Ballam

Veronica Moodie

Over-and-Under-the-Sea-Exhibition-posterDownload

New cultural exhibition launches at Edinburgh’s Gleneagles Townhouse

Gleneagles Townhouse, the hotel and all-day restaurant in Edinburgh, has launched the latest in its series of unique cultural exhibitions.

Edinburgh-born artist and director David Eustace, in collaboration with The Fine Art Society and Gleneagles Townhouse, presents ‘Memento Mori’ – an exhibition of new work inspired by the perception and inevitability of death – is available to view until 9th October.

Open to members, hotel residents and visitors to The Spence, the venue’s all-day dining restaurant, Eustace’s exhibition follows the success of Gleneagles Townhouse’s first ever photography exhibition in partnership with Soo Burnell, which took place throughout August.

The inspiration for ‘Memento Mori’ dates to 2018, on a visit to Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris with Eustace’s friend and fellow artist, Douglas Gordon. While sitting next to Gertrude Stein’s grave, Eustace collected some leaves in a box which went forgotten until lockdown two years ago.

He began studying decaying plants and flowers and took pictures which then developed into a series. Eustace’s arresting and humbling documentation of decaying flowers serves as a reminder of human’s own immediacy and fragility.

With a diverse background, Eustace began his career serving in the Royal Navy and worked as a Prison Officer at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow. Returning to education he graduated in 1991 and became a masthead contributor to Conde Nast Publications (GQ, Vogue and Tatler).

He has travelled extensively through-out his career and for 15 years was primarily based in NYC. In 2015 Eustace accepted the responsibility of Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, a post he held for six years.

His work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally and is included in both private and public collections. Eustace was the first photographic artist to have an exhibition in The Scottish Gallery’s 173-history.

His commercial and personal work often go hand in hand, highlighted by Panasonic when Eustace was approached to star in their global Lumix campaign based around his work and commentary. 

He has created campaigns for global clients including Paramount Pictures, Sony, Anthropologie. He also serves as a creative consultant for several companies including recently writing and directing the ‘Precious Time’ campaign for Balblair whisky.

Gleneagles Townhouse said: “David’s work is much admired all around the world, so it is a privilege for us to be showcasing his latest exhibition from our new Edinburgh Townhouse.

“From our early discussions around Townhouse, we knew we wanted to create a series of ongoing events which would showcase the diverse talent on our doorstep to our visitors – whether they were local or from further afield – and we’re thrilled David has joined us on the journey.”

gleneaglestownhouse.com

Edinburgh Women’s Aid launches art competition to mark 50th anniversary

Edinburgh Women’s Aid, which opened its first refuge in 1973 has unveiled plans for a series of year-long events in 2023 to mark 50 years of providing support for tens of thousands of women and their children who have experienced domestic abuse, which includes a competition to design a commemorative artwork to be unveiled at an exhibition in January.

Events planned throughout the year will highlight and pay tribute to those who have provided support for women and their families over the past five decades, with everything from giving them a safe place to stay in a refuge, specialist housing support, legal advice and help securing employment.

The aim of the commemorative artwork is to showcase how the charity has evolved over the years, the ongoing support available to help keep victims of domestic abuse safe and forthcoming plans.

In addition to being launched at the 50th anniversary exhibition, the artwork will also feature on the cover of the charity’s printed and digital Impact Report and various other marketing materials, including pull-up banners, leaflets, website and social media. The winning artist will also receive a prize of £500.

Entries can be created in any medium and should be submitted with the entry form available on EWA’s website, www.edinwomensaid.co.uk, by the 1st of November 2022.

Linda Rodgers, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Women’s Aid, said: “2023 is such an important milestone for us, it gives us pause to remember the amazing women who came before us – who fought against the odds to get our first refuge in 1973, who provided support and sanctuary to countless women over the many years and those survivors who went on to their full potential after escaping abuse. 

“We’ll also be taking the time to think about ‘what next’ so that we continue to provide innovative and necessary services to women and children in Edinburgh.”

Women and children’s rights campaigner Lydia Okroj, who has worked with Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Scottish Women’s Aid for over 40 years and recently received an honorary doctorate from Stirling University in recognition of her outstanding work, said: “EWA, which has been at forefront of shaping support services, policy responses and legislation in the city, which has been informed by the women they have supported, have so much to be proud of as they reach their 50th anniversary.

“Although awareness of domestic abuse has come a long way since 1973, when EWA began to provide refuge and support to ‘battered wives’, the need for the charity to continue supporting women, children and young people remains the same today as it did then, which is why it is important to highlight this milestone.

“It’s been a privilege to work alongside so many committed women over the past four decades and to have played a part in supporting survivors of domestic abuse and also to be involved in so many significant changes in legislation over the years, which will be showcased in some of the events planned throughout 2023.”

From Waste to Wall: new exhibition at Leith’s Image Collective Gallery

From reinterpreting autism to reimagining single-use products – how one artist is changing perspectives in Edinburgh this summer

Leith’s Image Collective Gallery launches thought-provoking new exhibition
‘From Waste to Wall’ with an opportunity to meet the artist

Diagnosed with autism at the age of three, art has played an important role throughout James Owen Thomas’ life as a means of communication and expression. Now aged 21, the multi award-winning artist views his autism not as a disability, but as a different kind of ability. And it is because of James’ unique ability to change perspectives that his latest exhibition, From Waste to Wall, is sure to attract attention. 

Debuting at Edinburgh’s Image Collective Gallery, From Waste to Wall features a range of thought-provoking collages, each one created using unwanted single-use products such as discarded lottery tickets. The artworks are intricately detailed – embodying James’ ethos that something genuinely beautiful can be created from items that others may deem as useless.

Speaking ahead of the exhibition opening, the North Yorkshire artist commented; “By creating collages from thousands of tiny pieces of discarded materials, I aim to make a positive statement about recycling.

“I have been exhibiting my unique style of environmental art since the age of 15 and I’m delighted to be displaying my art for the first time in Scotland this summer.”

The exhibition is being brought to Edinburgh thanks to the Image Collective Gallery owner, Sara Thomson, who first met James when they were both selected by PM Boris Johnson to become a COP26 One Step Greener Ambassador in 2021. 

Explaining her appreciation of James’ work, Sara said; “When I saw James’ work displayed at COP26 I was immediately struck by how intricate and beautiful each collage is.

“I was also moved by the powerful message he is putting out there – the idea that we need to change our attitudes, behaviour, perceptions, and perspectives if we’re going to save the planet.” 

The From Waste to Wall exhibition opens to the public on Tuesday 2nd August at The Image Collective Gallery and runs until Friday 30th September. The exhibition is free to view.

James Owen Thomas will be working on a live piece of art at The Image Collective Gallery on Tuesday 2nd August, 10am – 3pm, during which all are welcome to come and meet the artist.

Hidden Van Gogh self-portrait discovered by National Galleries of Scotland

Sensational find to go on display in Edinburgh this summer

The National Galleries of Scotland has discovered what is almost certainly a previously unknown self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh.

Believed to be a first for a UK institution, the mysterious image was revealed by an x-ray taken when art conservators examined Van Gogh’s Head of a Peasant Woman of 1885 ahead of the forthcoming exhibition A Taste for Impressionism (30 July–13 November) at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh. Visitors will be able to see the amazing x-ray image for the first timethrough a specially crafted lightbox at the centre of thedisplay.

Hidden from view for over a century, the self-portrait is on the back of the canvas with Head of a Peasant Woman and is covered by layers of glue and cardboard. NGS experts believe these materials were applied ahead of an exhibition in the early twentieth century. Van Gogh often re-used canvases to save money. However, instead of painting over earlier works, he would turn the canvas around and work on the reverse.

It may be possible to uncover the hidden self-portrait, but the process of removing the glue and cardboard will require delicate conservation work. Research is ongoing as to how that can be done without harming Head of a Peasant Woman.

Until then, the world can enjoy the tantalising discovery through a ghostly and utterly compelling x-ray image. It shows a bearded sitter in a brimmed hat with a neckerchief loosely tied at the throat. He fixes the viewer with an intense stare, the right side of his face in shadow and his left ear clearly visible.

Professor Frances Fowle, Senior Curator of French Art at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “Moments like this are incredibly rare. We have discovered an unknown work by Vincent van Gogh, one of the most important and popular artists in the world.

“What an incredible gift for Scotland, and one that will forever be in the care of the National Galleries. We are very excited to share this thrilling discovery in our big summer exhibition A Taste for Impressionism, where the x-ray image of the self-portrait will be on view for all to see.”

The condition of the underlying self-portrait is not known but, if it can be uncovered, it is expected to help shed new light on this enigmatic and beguiling artist.

Later in date than the Head of a Peasant Woman, the hidden painting is likely to have been made during a key moment in Van Gogh’s career, when he was exposed to the work of the French impressionists after moving to Paris. The experience had a profound effect and was a major influence on why he adopted a more colourful and expressive style of painting – one that is so much admired today.

Head of a Peasant Woman entered the NGS collection in 1960, as part of the gift of an Edinburgh lawyer, Alexander Maitland, in memory of his wife Rosalind. Dating from an early period in Van Gogh’s career, the painting shows a local woman from the town of Nuenen in the south of the Netherlands, where the artist lived from December 1883 to November 1885.

Painted in March or April 1885, it seems to be a likeness of Gordina de Groot (known as Sien) who was a model for Van Gogh’s early masterpiece The Potato Eaters of 1885 (Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam). Her facial features, white cap and simple work clothes are sketched in oil, using broad brushstrokes and earthy colours typical of French realist artists such as Jean-François Millet, whom Van Gogh greatly admired.

In 1886 the artist moved to Paris to be closer to his brother Theo, who was an early supporter of the Impressionists. Exposed to the work of this revolutionary group of artists, Van Gogh lightened his palette and experimented with broken brushwork.

At the studio of Fernand Cormon, where he took classes in painting, he met avant-garde artists such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Emile Bernard. He also encountered the work of Georges Seurat and Paul Gauguin, under whose influence he began to paint more expressively, using brighter colours.

In the summer of 1887 Van Gogh was experimenting with painting portraits, using friends and also himself as a model. Theo was out of town and unable to assist financially, so Van Gogh re-used canvases to save money. Van Gogh died in 1890 and his brother followed six months later, at which point the artist’s entire oeuvre was left to Theo’s widow, Jo Van Gogh-Bonger.

Probably around 1905, when the Peasant Woman was lent to an exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, the decision was made to stick the canvas down on cardboard prior to framing. At this date the Peasant Woman was evidently considered more ‘finished’ than the Van Gogh self-portrait.

The painting changed hands several times and in 1923 was acquired by Evelyn St. Croix Fleming, whose son, Ian, became the creator of James Bond. It was not until 1951 that it came to Scotland, having entered the collection of Alexander and Rosalind Maitland.

Neil Hanna Photography www.neilhannaphotography.co.uk 07702 246823

Once revealed, the hidden self-portrait will be part of a group of several such self-portraits and other works painted on the back of earlier canvases from the Nuenen period.

Five examples are in the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Others in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut; and the Kunstmuseum Den Haag.

Records in the Van Gogh Museum confirm that in 1929 the cardboard was removed from three of their Nuenen pictures by the Dutch restorer Jan Cornelis Traas, revealing the portraits on the verso.

Pictures: Neil Hanna