In Gauguin’s Self-Portrait, the artist represents himself as a whole and strong-willed person. His sharp and crude features seem to be cut out by a sculptor. Gauguin endowed his image with lineaments of a barbaric prophet, who is called to update the language of art. The painting’s dull and dark colors give the portrait a gloomy and mysterious character. These qualities come from symbolism in literature that influenced Paul Gauguin’s works.