A never-before-seen self-portrait of Vincent Van Gogh has been discovered behind another of the artist’s paintings.
The self-portrait was found on the back of Van Gogh’s Head of a Peasant Woman in Scotland as the Edinburgh gallery took an X-ray of it ahead of an exhibition.
National Galleries of Scotland art experts believe the self-portrait has gone undetected for more than a century, covered by layers of glue and cardboard, according to the Associated Press.
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“Moments like this are incredibly rare,” Senior Curator Frances Fowle said. “We have discovered an unknown work by Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most important and popular artists in the world.”
The X-ray revealed a portrait of a bearded sitter in a brimmed hat who one expert said was instantly recognizable as Van Gogh.
The self-portrait, which features a left ear, is believed to be from Van Gogh’s early work before the artist famously cut off his left ear in 1888.
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An X-ray image of the self-portrait will be on display at the upcoming Impressionist exhibit at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh, running from July 30 to Nov. 13.
