Self-Portrait with Plumed Cap and Lowered Sabre
Original title: Self-Portrait with Plumed Cap and Lowered Sabre
kurzbeschreibung
Rembrandt van Rijn etched this self-portrait in 1634; the impression is the second of three states. It shows the artist wearing a feathered cap and a lowered saber, his gaze turned thoughtfully toward the viewer. Etching is an intaglio process in which the drawing is bitten into a metal plate.
Description
A man with curly hair and a beard, topped by a feather-trimmed cap, looks slightly to the side; his expression seems friendly and pensive. At his neck he holds a saber, its blade pointing downward. An oval frame encloses the portrait. Dark grays and blacks dominate, with fine hatching and strong light-dark contrasts shaping the image.
Context
By 1634 Rembrandt was already established as a portraitist in Amsterdam. Self-portraits run throughout his work, often as studies of expression and light. In this etching he appears in historicizing dress, which catered to contemporary taste for exotic and theatrical motifs. The second state contains reworkings that make the linework appear finer.
Impact
An intimate yet present aura emanates from this sheet, produced by the artist's direct but thoughtful gaze. Fine hatching and strong contrasts create a lively surface that draws attention to the facial features. The oval frame gives the work a classical, almost medallion-like feel.
Technique
The etching technique, in which the drawing is incised into a copper plate bitten with acid, was used here. In the second state, additional biting and hatching were added, increasing the depth and texture of the print. The small format (13 x 10.8 cm) allows for precise and fine linework.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)