Self-Portrait of Rembrandt

The Self-Portrait of Rembrandt is a masterful etching on laid paper created in 1771 by the German printmaker Georg Friedrich Schmidt, translating an original work by the celebrated Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn. Dating specifically from the period 1751 to 1775, this piece serves as a vital record of the enduring appeal of the Dutch Golden Age across 18th-century Europe. Schmidt, who specialized in the reproduction of famous paintings, employed the intaglio process of etching to meticulously capture the complex details and emotional depth inherent in Rijn’s self-studies.

The print showcases the sitter’s characteristic heavy gaze and the dramatic play of light and shadow, or chiaroscuro, for which Rijn was renowned. While replicating the psychological intensity of the original painting, Schmidt’s etching technique translates the textures and tones into sharp, precise lines and cross-hatching. This technical fidelity was crucial in an era before mass photography, ensuring that Rijn’s composition and expressive treatment of the subject remained accessible to scholars and patrons across the German territories and beyond.

This practice of creating reproductive prints significantly contributed to the establishment of Rijn’s reputation as one of history’s greatest visual storytellers. The creation of such prints allowed a wider audience to engage with celebrated compositions, acting as early tools for art historical dissemination. This piece offers insight not only into the appearance of Rijn but also into the robust German printmaking culture of the mid-18th century. Today, this valuable example of print history resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it helps document the lineage of self-portraiture. Like many important historical prints, high-resolution versions of this work are increasingly available to the public domain.