Self Portrait in a Cap, Wide-Eyed and Open-Mouthed

Rembrandt was an artist who re-invented the possibilities and significance of the etching medium, almost singlehandedly. It was no-longer a commercial choice to distribute paintings more widely, but an expressive of creativity every bit as impressive as oil painting.

We all are aware of Rembrandt's constant use of self-portraiture within his career, willing to look deeply into his own soul, and put we he saw onto the canvas or paper. He was happy and willing to portray all elements of his character, be it positive or negative. This was unusual and he would even depict himself as a beggar from time to time, that others of this period would never have done.This was an artist who captured expressions beautifully, and eyes would always play the most important role within his portraits, as displayed perfectly in this etching from 1630. Even amidst the huge numbers of self portraits that he produced across a variety of different mediums, this piece will never leave your mind once you have first seen the expression on the Dutchman's face, which seems to be one of surprise, perhaps even shock.

The artist incorporated large amounts of crosshatch strokes within this etching, where form is produced by literally crossing lines together in intense arrangements. There are then looser strokes for the outer parts of his hair, to allow a little more freedom and expression. In other painted examples he might actually use the bottom of his brush in order to scrape directly into the paint to produce a similar type of result for the looser head hairs. He then provides much thicker coloured areas for the key parts of the face, namely the eyes as well as where the bottom of the nose and lips would be darkened by shadows. Anything below his neck, plus his shoulders, are left completely devoid of detail, underlining where the importance in this artwork lay. Rembrandt was always a particularly honest and open artist who did not have the same necessity to promote his own image within his work, but rather concentrate on expressing the emotions that he felt, or that he saw in others.

He would produce around 90 self portraits during his career, though there may have been more that have since been lost or damaged. This genre has always offered productive, motivated artists an opportunity to work in pretty much any environment, so long as they had the right tools to hand. One can also learn so much by studying this varied series across his lifetime, to not only judge his progression through life, but also to examine how his opinions of himself may have changed over time. This particular etching can now be found in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Most visitors to this fine institution will also be interested to check out some of the other notable artworks from Rembrandt's career, including Night Watch, Self-portrait as the Apostle Paul and The Jewish Bride.

Object Notes and Research Context

The Rijksmuseum describes this 1630 etching as one of the most engaging of Rembrandt's early emotional self-portraits. The wide eyes, pursed lips and upward angle make the head seem to recoil, as if surprise has been caught at the instant it forms.

The print works as both self-study and stock of expression. Rembrandt could test how a small change in mouth, eyelid or viewpoint altered character, then draw on that knowledge in biblical and history scenes. The contours fading into the edges also make it a useful example for the technique page.

The expression should be described as a study rather than a confession. Rembrandt exaggerates the eyes and mouth to learn how surprise, fear or astonishment can be made legible with very few lines. That kind of theatrical exercise was valuable for a history painter who needed convincing emotional faces.

The page can also explain why these early self-portraits became so beloved. They feel spontaneous, but they are also disciplined technical trials. The viewer sees Rembrandt thinking through the relationship between mirror, plate, hand and face, which makes the small sheet a strong support page for both self-portrait and etching navigation.

Further Rembrandt Context

This shorter legacy page remains part of the Rembrandt archive. For fuller context, use the refreshed Rembrandt pages below, which explain the artist's biography, media, technique, attribution issues and major works in greater depth.

• Rembrandt
• Rembrandt etchings
• Rembrandt Style and Technique
• Rembrandt Workshop and Attribution

For secure object data, attribution and collection history, compare Self Portrait in a Cap, Wide-Eyed and Open-Mouthed with the relevant museum or catalogue record before treating older page text as final.

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