“Self-Portrait”
Rembrandt van Rijn is arguably one of the greatest artists of Western European history. He lived during a time known as the ‘Dutch Golden Age’ when the Netherlands were the cultural center of the western world. Today, I am sharing one of his many wonderful self-portraits.
“Self-Portrait” is a wonderful painting by the talented Rembrandt van Rijn. This oil on panel painting was made in 1628 when Rembrandt was just 22 years old.
In this painting, the young artist paints himself in a three-quarter view. This piece is unique in that Rembrandt cast a shadow across most of his face which lends a moodier feel to the piece. The light is centered on the lower side of his face and neck, highlighting his cheekbone and jawline. The eyes, which are usually much brighter in portraits, are completely engulfed in shadows. Though his eyes are in shadow, Rembrandt is painted looking directly at the viewer. The texture of his curly hair stands out against the rough facade of the gray background.
Throughout his life, Rembrandt did many self-portraits, including about 40 paintings, 31 etchings, and several drawings. As the painter aged, it’s fascinating to see how his artistic technique evolved and how the way he saw himself and chose to represent himself evolved. It’s obvious to the viewer that Rembrandt’s self-portraits were a very personal thing. This is one of his earliest ones.
A possible study for this piece, titled “Self Portrait at the Age of 22”, is in the collections of the National Trust and is currently on display at the Knightshayes Court near Tiverton, Devon, England.
“Self-Portrait” is currently on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
For more on Rembrandt van Rijn, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
