Self-Portrait in a Black Cap (1637) by RembrandtThe Wallace Collection
Rembrandt van Rijn created over 60 self-portraits, exploring his own image in painting, drawing, and print. He transformed self-portraiture into a distinct artistic genre.
They show him not as idealised, but as a man facing life's challenges, inviting us to contemplate our own reflections.
Here, Rembrandt portrayed himself in costume, wearing a sixteenth century fur cloak adorned with a double gold chain.
On his head he wears a black velvet beret, also adorned with a gold chain.
On his left hand he wears a leather glove, an indispensable accessory of any gentleman.
Rembrandt uses his gaze to engage directly with the viewer, creating a captivating and intimate encounter. His intense gaze holds a sense of both vulnerability and strength.
Rembrandt's self-portraits were an exercise in self-examination.
Rembrandt was seeking to know himself as he really was, flaws and all, and to analyse his own character and emotions, and he did so by painting himself in a variety of ways.
Self-Portrait in a Black Cap (1637) by RembrandtThe Wallace Collection
Rembrandt's self-portraits invite us to reflect on our own identities and the enduring power of self-reflection. His self-portraits show him, not as he wished he might have been, but as a man: bereaved, lonely perhaps, but undeniably proud.
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