Although Gauguin painted numerous self-portraits in his lifetime, this is perhaps the only one completed wearing eyewear. That said, it should be noted this image is the only one delivering a hint of the actual color of his own sky-light blue eyes. By chance it might be the only time he was actually able to SEE the color of his own eyes, and this rather drastic departure from his usual style also evokes the thought that he might be seeing life a bit too clearly at this point. He was about to be arrested for his political stances but died shortly before that imprisonment.