Self-portrait at the Age of 34 (1640) by Rembrandt

Self-portrait at the Age of 34 - Rembrandt - 1640

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Artwork Information

TitleSelf-portrait at the Age of 34
ArtistRembrandt
Date1640
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions92 x 76 cm
Art MovementBaroque
Current LocationNational Gallery, London, UK

About Self-portrait at the Age of 34

The artwork titled “Self-portrait at the Age of 34” was created by the artist Rembrandt van Rijn in 1640. It is an oil painting on canvas measuring 92 x 76 cm and represents the genre of portraiture. The piece is an exemplar of the Baroque movement and can be found at the National Gallery in London, United Kingdom.

The artwork depicts a half-length figure of the artist himself, Rembrandt, at the age of thirty-four. Rembrandt is wearing a large, dark hat and a fur-trimmed coat, which drapes voluminously across his body and arm, suggesting a position of relaxed elegance. The artist’s face is turned to meet the viewer’s gaze, with a subdued, yet self-assured expression. His right arm rests gently on what appears to be a ledge or balustrade, which adds spatial structure to the composition and grounds the figure in an implied three-dimensional space.

Rembrandt’s skill in handling light and shade can be seen in the delicate illumination of his face and collar, which creates a stark contrast with the overall darker tones of the portrait. This mastery of chiaroscuro, a hallmark of the Baroque period, enhances the psychological presence and depth of the portrait. A particular attention to the textural details is evident in the rendering of his skin, the plushness of the fur, and the fabric of his garments.

The painting is framed by an arch, a common feature in many of Rembrandt’s self-portraits, which contributes to the classical gravitas of the piece. Rembrandt signed and dated the work on the ledge, a testament to his authorship and the time of its creation. Overall, the artwork reveals Rembrandt’s preoccupation with a truthful representation of his own personage and a deep understanding of human character conveyed through the art of portraiture.

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