Self-portrait Bare-headed is an early print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1629. Classified as a print executed on paper, this work demonstrates the young artist's emerging mastery of etching and its dramatic potential. Created during his productive years in Leiden, the piece is one of many intense self-studies Rijn executed to hone his understanding of light, shadow, and human expression.
This specific image captures the artist in a quick, immediate style, typical of his experimental early etchings, focusing primarily on his intense facial features. The dramatic use of shadow, known as chiaroscuro, characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age, is evident in the way light illuminates only the forehead and nose, leaving the surrounding features enveloped in deep darkness. Rijn frequently used himself as an inexpensive model, allowing him to experiment with fleeting expressions and character studies that bordered on the genre of the tronie. The work depicts the artist bare-headed and relatively youthful, capturing a serious moment of contemplation.
As one of the foundational self-portraits in Rijn's extensive body of prints, this early work is essential for understanding his technical development as a visual storyteller in the 17th century. This print is held in the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Today, many fine prints by the artist, including this pivotal image, are available through public domain collections, ensuring its accessibility for ongoing study and appreciation.
Important: ArtBee makes no warranties about the copyright status of this artwork. To the best of our knowledge, based on information from the source museum, we believe this work is in the public domain.
You are responsible for determining the rights status and securing any permissions needed for your use. Copyright status may vary by jurisdiction. See our License & Usage page and Terms of Service for details.