Self-Portrait 1675 - 1680

Carel de Moor II painted this oval self-portrait, now at the Rijksmuseum, using oil on panel. Notice how the composition, dominated by a dark coat, throws the gaze upwards to the artist's face. The landscape background is rendered almost as an afterthought, a blur of greens and blues, which only serves to concentrate attention on the artist himself. The direction of light is particularly striking, illuminating de Moor's face from the left, creating a chiaroscuro effect that heightens the sense of drama and self-awareness. His gaze meets ours directly, an invitation, perhaps, to ponder the artist's inner world. The tension between the detailed rendering of the face and the sketchiness of the background suggests a dichotomy, a dialogue between the self and the world, characteristic of baroque portraiture. The oval format too, serves to isolate and elevate the subject.