Self-Portrait with Saskia

The intimate and complex Self-Portrait with Saskia was created by the master printmaker Rembrandt van Rijn Dutch, 1606-1669, in 1636. Classified as an etching, this significant work exemplifies the technical versatility of the artist during the height of the Dutch Golden Age. Executed on buff laid paper, the print demonstrates Rembrandt’s spontaneous approach to line work, using the etching needle to achieve a rich texture and psychological depth unparalleled in the graphic arts of the period. The artist created this piece just two years after marrying Saskia van Uylenburgh, his primary model and companion during this highly productive phase.

While often interpreted as a purely domestic dual-portrait, the composition likely alludes to moralizing narratives popular in seventeenth-century Netherlands society, possibly referencing the parable of the Prodigal Son. In this setting, Rembrandt presents himself in historical costume, dominating the scene while raising a glass toward the viewer, embodying confidence and theatricality. Saskia, seated subtly behind him, provides a more modest counterpoint. The masterful control of light and shadow, central to Rembrandt’s prints, enhances the dramatic and narrative tension inherent in the portrayal.

As one of the most celebrated examples of printmaking from the era, the work holds enduring artistic and biographical significance. Because of its historical importance, reproductions of this etched masterwork are frequently made available through public domain collections worldwide. This specific impression is a valued piece within the comprehensive holdings of European art at the Art Institute of Chicago.