Self-Portrait in a Flat Cap and Embroidered Dress

Self-Portrait in a Flat Cap and Embroidered Dress is a historically significant etching created by the Dutch Master Rembrandt van Rijn sometime between 1637 and 1647. Classified as a print, this piece is a powerful demonstration of Rembrandt’s technical command over the etching needle, a medium he frequently used for technical experimentation and personal study. This impression represents the refined second state of the composition, showcasing the deliberate alterations made by the artist during the printmaking process.

The subject is the artist himself, presented in an intimate but highly stylized manner. Unlike formal commissioned portraits, Rembrandt often adopted dramatic or historical costumes for his Self-portraits, enabling him to explore character studies without external constraints. Here, the artist wears a flattened cap and an elaborate garment featuring intricate embroidery, a choice that emphasizes texture and allows for a dynamic play of light and shadow achieved through precise cross-hatching and deep, rich lines.

Rembrandt created over eighty Self-portraits across various media throughout his career, positioning him as one of the most prolific self-documenters of the Dutch Golden Age. This work, focusing on the expressive qualities of the solitary figure, offers psychological depth typical of his mid-career etchings. The careful rendering of the face and the expressive gaze reveal a mature artist confident in his draftsmanship. This impressive print is securely housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and like many masterworks by the artist, high-resolution reproductions of this image are frequently available via the institution's public domain initiatives.