Self-portrait with long bushy hair: head only

The intimate print, Self-portrait with long bushy hair: head only, was executed by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1631. Dating from a critical juncture in the artist’s early career in Leiden, this piece is one of many expressive self-studies Rijn created during the 1630s that dramatically influenced the history of prints. This particular self-portrait focuses solely on the head, capturing an intense gaze and an exaggerated expression, demonstrating the artist’s technical preoccupation with movement and emotion. Created using etching techniques on paper, the work showcases Rijn’s growing skill in manipulating line and shadow to create volume and psychological depth, a key element of the Dutch Golden Age style.

Unlike formal commissioned portraits, Rijn utilized his self-depictions as a laboratory to explore a variety of fleeting human expressions, sometimes bordering on the theatrical or dramatic, allowing him to perfect his ability to render diverse emotional states. The long, seemingly unruly hair noted in the title provides a dramatic framing device that heightens the contrast between the illuminated face and the deeply shaded background, emphasizing Rijn’s mastery of chiaroscuro in the print medium. These experimental studies, often released as editioned prints, not only cemented the artist’s reputation throughout the Netherlands but also provided critical models for his numerous students. This important example of his early graphic output is preserved today within the collection of the Rijksmuseum. As with many masterworks of this period, the image is now widely shared through various cultural institutions categorized as public domain art.