Self-portrait in a Flat Cap and Embroidered Dress c. 1642

Curator: Here we have Rembrandt van Rijn's "Self-portrait in a Flat Cap and Embroidered Dress," a small etching currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's a striking intensity to his gaze, even in this tiny format. He really commands your attention, doesn't he? Curator: Absolutely. What interests me is the embroidered dress itself. Not just what it signifies about Rembrandt’s status, but also the labor involved in its creation and the exchange of materials required for its construction. Editor: It’s also a deliberate construction of persona. The "embroidered dress" might be more of a theatrical costume – Rembrandt was very interested in portraiture and its marketability. It's about the image he wanted to project, both to patrons and to other artists. Curator: Precisely! The etching process itself allowed for wider distribution of this image, and therefore a wider control over his artistic reputation. Editor: His choice of clothing is calculated, yes, to craft a public image. Curator: So, while it appears intimate, it is still very much a commodity, a piece of the 17th-century art market. Editor: Ultimately, it's a reminder that even self-portraits are shaped by the world around them, a negotiation between the artist and his audience.