Self-Portrait

Perhaps more than any other artist, throughout his whole life Rembrandt observed himself and critically accompanied his life’s journey with numerous selfportraits, be they Paintings, drawings or prints. In this bust etching, the 27-year-old artist is turned to the left, with his head turned in half profile. His strained expression has formed two deep vertical creases on his forehead leading up from the root of his nose. His cap is perched cheekily on his flowing hair, and he has a goatee and moustache framing his mouth. He wears a long scarf around his neck, ending on his bent back; there are cords dangling from his left epaulet. Here, Rembrandt has masterfully created with his etching needle the image of a young man inquisitively fixating the observer – modelled in light and shadow. (Sonja Brink)