Self-Portrait with Saskia
Rembrandt van Rijn. 1636 C.E. Netherlands. Etching
Rembrandt stand out among his contemporaries is that he often created multiple states of a single image. This etching, for example, exists in three states. By reworking his plates he was able to experiment with ways to improve and extend the expressive power of his images.
Rembrandt van Rijn. 1636 C.E. Netherlands. Etching
Rembrandt stand out among his contemporaries is that he often created multiple states of a single image. This etching, for example, exists in three states. By reworking his plates he was able to experiment with ways to improve and extend the expressive power of his images.
Self-Portrait with Disheveled hair c. 1628
Self-Portrait with two circles
form:
- Rembrandt used a copper plate, eroded by acid, to create this work
- The Etching plate is deeper for Rembrandt than Saskia
- Shows him as more important, but also closer to the viewer
- He first etched in Saskia to help create the illusion that she is behind Rembrandt
- This was likely etched in a mirror
- it depicts Rembrandt as left handed, yet he used his right
Function:
- Private artwork
- comments on the nature of their relationship
- We are getting a view into a private moment as if we have literally interrupted it
Context:
- Depicts a thirty year old Rembrandt and his wife Saskia, two years after they were married
- Rembrandt is one of the most prolific etchers of his time with nearly 300 to his name
many of his early etchings have the immediacy and spontaneity of a rapid sketch
- Highly experimental artist
- Used a soft ground to allow him to draw freely on the plate
- He is also well known for his portraits
- His style changed greatly over his lifetime
- With his early works we see a much more extensive use of Chiaroscuro
- His later works show his evolved confidence as an artist
- With the Self-Portrait with two circles we see him defiantly claiming his genius
- We also see his comparing of himself to the likes of Giotto with the two circles in the background
Content:
- Obviously, this is a marriage portrait
- depicts a young Rembrandt with his wife Saskia
- This is the only etched portrait of the two together
- Rembrandt rarely depicted himself as the contemporary Gentleman
- Against the style of time
- We are present in scene
- We appear to have interrupted an intimate moment
- This etching also marks the first time Rembrandt depicted himself as an artist in the work
- Like I said before, this was probably etched in the mirror causing a reversed image
- While this is the only portrait of the two together, it was not unusual for Rembrandt to use his wife as a model
