Self-portrait wearing a soft cap full face, head only 1634

This is an etching, a self-portrait of Rembrandt van Rijn. He was a Dutch painter and printmaker, and one of the greatest visual artists of his age. Rembrandt lived and worked during the Dutch Golden Age when the Dutch Republic was at the peak of its powers. The soft cap he wears in this self-portrait was typical studio garb. During this period, the artist increasingly became a public figure, and the self-portrait served as a form of advertisement, displaying his skill and creative independence. Rembrandt's focus on light and shadow to create dramatic effects was ground-breaking. He also used his own image to explore the depths of human emotion. Historians consult all sorts of period documents, from account books to personal letters, to understand the world in which he lived, and to interpret the enduring appeal of his art. It is clear his art challenged social norms, critiquing the institutions of art.