Rembrandt Self-portraits Various English is available to buy in increments of 1
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Rembrandt Self-Portraits
Only a few devotees of the form have come close to Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn's radical contributions to the art of self-portraiture. Rembrandt challenged the conventions enshrined by his predecessors and transformed this format into a medium capable of communicating emotional depth, rather than simply depicting physical appearance in a suitable or luxurious setting as was customary.
With over 80 works comprising paintings, prints and drawings, the self-portraits that the Dutchman produced throughout his life are a means of fixing the ephemeral, whether moments of individual evolution in the face of the inexorable passage of time or of emotions and facial gestures that disappear without trace as quickly as they appeared. Throughout the four decades in which they were painted, one constant is striking across all techniques and styles: Rembrandt's determination to present himself from multiple perspectives, to celebrate the multiplicity of the individual and to strive for a natural, unfiltered portrayal of emotional expression.
In addition to the thematic concerns present in Rembrandt's collection of self-portraits, the creations are also an example of technical innovation and experimentation. Light bathes a shoulder while half a face is in shadow against a dark background. His unruly curls, marked over a wet patina of earth-toned paint with a frayed-tip reed pencil, seem to reflect the light falling on them, swirling with the riotous energy of surprise that Rembrandt's face so often expresses. Throughout his work we find an unmistakable humanity, each expressive brushstroke and confusing detail translating into a resolute and honest characterisation of himself, of all his weaknesses, conflicting feelings and stages of life.
This monograph, published in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the artist's death, presents all of Rembrandt's self-portraits in stunning XL size. From his first experiments at the age of 22 to his last self-portrait painted a year before his death, this monumental collection bears witness to a life devoted to revolutionising pictorial practice in form and content.
