Self-Portrait

Something that is typical of Rembrandt is the different degrees of elaboration within his paintings. While the facial features are finely modelled in detail, his coat is merely outlined. This gives the state of mind captured in the face an immense presence. In his numerous self-portraits, however, Rembrandt obviously did not have the analysis of himself in mind. Rather, he wanted to paint gripping, and thus marketable, pictures. At which he was very successful, for his self-portraits became sought-after collector’s items far beyond his own lifetime.