The Peasant, Portrait of Patience Escalier - Vincent van Gogh - 1888 - Private collection Oil on canvas Height: 69 cm (27.17 in.), Width: 56 cm (22.05 in.)

The striking color, emphatic brushwork, and contoured forms of Vincent's work are as evident in his portraits as they are in his landscapes and still life works. He had a gift for looking into the human soul--but he clearly looked into it with sad eyes. There is always a visible touch of Vincent in his portraits--regardless of the identify of the sitter. Rather than this being a critical observation, however, I see it as part of this wonderful artist's signature style.