Rembrandt. The Complete Self-Portraits

Rembrandt created over 80 self-portraits in the form of paintings, etchings, and drawings—more than any other artist before him. For him, the self-portrait was primarily a stylistic experiment. Whether as a mischievous young man, in the pose of a soldier or Oriental, in biblical or mythological attire, sometimes as a melancholic figure at the easel, and at other times as a citizen in Sunday best—each expressive brushstroke, each veiled facial feature served to characterize a different facet of his persona.

Through the precise capture of moods, expressions, and sometimes fleeting moments, Rembrandt revolutionized the art of the self-portrait. It was not the representative ideal type that was primarily in focus, but the accurate observation of an artist who often served as his own model. In addition to their stylistic diversity and sensitivity to the human experience, the works impress with great experimental zeal: the fine curls etched with a coarse reed pen into the moist patina, subtly reflecting light. Or the etched portraits as virtuosic exercises in depicting his own facial expressions.

This volume presents all self-portraits—from the early works at the age of 22 to the last likeness created shortly before his death—and stands as a testament to a life dedicated to revolutionizing painting practice in both content and form.