Self-Portrait
Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn), 1660
About this artwork
Rembrandt van Rijn's *Self-Portrait* of 1660 is a example of the Dutch master's late oeuvre, painted in oil on canvas and measuring 31⅝ × 26½ inches. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Paintings department—thanks to the 1913 bequest of Benjamin Altman—this work showcases Rembrandt's profound self-examination, a recurring theme in his over 80 self-portraits across his lifetime. Created during the Dutch Golden Age, amid the height of 17th-century Dutch prosperity and artistic innovation, the painting reflects Baroque influences with Rembrandt's signature chiaroscuro technique. Dramatic contrasts of light and shadow lend emotional depth and psychological introspection, revealing the artist's technical mastery in layering impasto textures and rich glazes typical of oil on canvas. As both an aesthetic triumph and historical document, this self-portrait illuminates the cultural values of introspection and individualism in Rembrandt's era, inviting viewers to ponder the gaze of a genius at age 54. It stands as a testament to his enduring legacy in European art.