Self-portrait, Bare-headed

Rembrandt van Rijn (mentioned on object), 1629

This self-portrait of 1629, one of Rembrandt’s first, reveals his ambition and urge to experiment. He drew the image on the etching ground with coarse strokes of a two-pronged instrument, doubtless a quill pen. That he approached the copperplate as a drawing board was highly unusual. The result, incidentally, is not entirely successful, nor is the large format as yet convincing. But Rembrandt was a quick learner.

  • Artwork typeprint
  • Object numberRP-P-OB-723
  • Dimensionsheight 174 mm x width 154 mm
  • Physical characteristicsets