['Self-portrait with Saskia', "The artist's mother with her hand on her chest"] Possibly 1631 - 1759

Rembrandt van Rijn created this etching, ‘Self-portrait with Saskia,’ in 1636. The composition is dominated by the contrast between light and shadow, or chiaroscuro, a technique Rembrandt mastered. Notice how the dense network of lines and cross-hatching sculpts the forms and creates a palpable sense of depth. The artist's focus on the materiality of the etching medium enhances the intimate portrayal of himself and his wife. Semiotically, the feathered hat and elegant attire signify status and artistic identity. In contrast, Saskia's more subdued presence invites questions about gender and representation within their relationship. Ultimately, the formal qualities of this print—its texture, tonal range, and dynamic composition—reveal Rembrandt's deep engagement with the expressive potential of the medium. By manipulating light and shadow, he destabilizes conventional portraiture and elevates the psychological depth of the image, inviting us to continually reinterpret its meaning.