By: Jin Huang

A hidden self-portrait of Van Gogh has been discovered by the National Galleries of Scotland.

Vincent Van Gogh was broke, so he often painted on both sides of the canvas. Unfortunately,

over the years some of his reverse side paintings were covered up and lost.

“Moments like this are incredibly rare,” Frances Fowle, senior curator of French art, said. “We

have discovered an unknown work by Vincent van Gogh, one of the most important and popular artists in the world.”

Using X-ray scanning, the self-portrait was revealed on a painting of Van Gogh, Head of a

Peasant Woman, as the museum was prepping for an upcoming exhibition on impressionism.

“Hidden from view for over a century, the self-portrait is on the back of the canvas with the

Head of a Peasant Woman and is covered by layers of glue and cardboard,” the museum said on Thursday.

Experts at the museum believe that the materials covering the newly discovered self-portrait

were applied in the early 20th century before an art display.