A Bearded Man in a Cap

What emotions do you think this oil painting conjures up? This is Rembrandt’s solemn ‘Bearded Man in Cap’, created some time during the late 1650s. This work is now housed in Room 22 of London’s National Gallery, alongside numerous other Rembrandts. Born in 1606, Rembrandt van Rijn moved to Amsterdam in his mid 20s and soon became a celebrated portraitist. Looking at this painting, it’s easy to see why! ️ The work portrays an elderly man against a shadowy background. His face is lined and weary, framed by a brown square beard. He wears a dark coloured hat, and gazes pensively out of the canvas. He does not make eye contact or interact with the viewer at all. We almost feel like we’re intruding on a moment of introspection. Rather than depicting a specific person, this painting is an example of a ‘tronie’ – a character study, intended to capture an emotion through a human face. ‘Bearded Man in Cap’ clearly represents melancholy and thoughtfulness. ‘Tronie’ literally translates to ‘head’! The subtlety of expression in this painting has been achieved through Rembrandt’s masterful use of light and shadow. The tronie was painted from life, allowing for a realistic level of detail. Rembrandt has used a limited colour palette, consisting of muted shades of black and brown. Alongside the intense shadows, this builds a gloomy tone. The large hat worn by this man seems to be the same accessory seen in several other paintings by Rembrandt, including his own ‘Self Portrait at the Age of 34’ (1640). Art historians believe that the hat may have been a prop kept in the artist’s Amsterdam studio! Why do you think it would have been important for Rembrandt to practice representing specific emotions?