Self-portrait, by Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1628
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Self-portrait

Also titled Zelfportret

Rembrandt van Rijn (Leiden, 1606–1669)

c. 1628

Medium
panel, oil paint (paint)
Classification
painting
Dimensions
height 22.6 cm x width 18.7 cm
Museum
Rijksmuseum
Credit line
Purchased with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt, the Stichting tot Bevordering van de Belangen van het Rijksmuseum and the ministerie van CRM
Rights
Public Domain Mark, as the museum states it.
Who can see it
Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed

View at the Rijksmuseum

About this work

Even as an inexperienced young artist, Rembrandt did not shy away from experimenting. Here the light glances along his right cheek, while the rest of his face is veiled in shadow. It takes a while to realize that the artist is gazing intently out at us. Using the butt end of his brush, Rembrandt made scratches in the still wet paint to accentuate the curls of his tousled hair.