Self-Portrait Etching at a Window

Rembrandt van Rijn

National Gallery of Art

The image shows the upper half of a man sitting at a table, facing the viewer directly. He is positioned slightly to the right side of the image and leans slightly forward, resting his right arm on the table. His facial features include a broad face, pronounced cheekbones, and a straight-lined mouth. He has curly hair beneath a wide-brimmed hat that shadows part of his face. The man wears a dark, long-sleeved garment with a visible collar. On the table in front of him lie some papers or a book, which he holds with his right hand. Light enters from the left, through an open window that features detailed shading and an outdoor view of trees and a building in the distance. The room behind the man is dark, with the light from the window highlighting his features and the papers.