Look first
Self-Portrait
Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) · 1660
Self-Portrait by Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn): Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
What to notice
Meet the aging artist’s direct gaze first, then examine the layered browns, rough paint, and broad cap that make physical wear inseparable from authority.
Discover
Rembrandt made this self-portrait in 1660, late in a career marked by repeated scrutiny of his own face. Layered earth colors, rough paint, and unidealized features give the image gravity without relying on courtly display.
Source institution: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Rights status: Public Domain / The Met Open Access
Rights status: Public Domain / The Met Open Access
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Primary sourceSource & image rights verified for launch