Self-portrait with bushy hair: bust

The influential Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn created Self-portrait with bushy hair: bust in 1631. This small but significant print, executed on paper, exemplifies Rijn’s early exploration of self-representation through the demanding medium of etching. Dating to the year he moved permanently to Amsterdam, this work captures the artist in his mid-twenties, a critical period where he rapidly built his reputation for vivid portraiture and historical scenes.

The composition is a close-up bust format, focused entirely on the artist’s head and shoulders. Rijn portrays himself looking dramatically over his shoulder, the lighting casting the face largely into shadow while emphasizing the unruly, "bushy" mass of hair referenced in the title. Unlike his highly finished commissioned portraits, these early self-prints often served as studies in expression and light (chiaroscuro), functioning much like visual sketches that allowed the artist to experiment freely. This particular example is highly valued among collectors of 17th-century prints for its technical skill and immediate psychological depth.

As one of the foremost Dutch Golden Age artists, Rijn produced dozens of self-portraits throughout his career, documenting his changing appearance and emotional state. The detailed execution and immediate expressive quality of this piece ensure its enduring status in art history. This original impression resides in the extensive collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it forms part of the museum’s comprehensive holdings of master prints. Thanks to careful stewardship and the passage of time, high-quality images of this historic work are frequently made available for study through public domain art initiatives.