Description
In Self-Portrait Leaning on a Stone Sill, Rembrandt rests his forearms on the parapet, bringing his upper body close to the front of the image. A beret and dark sleeves frame his angled head, while a large unmarked area behind him keeps attention on the face and the leaning posture. The parapet gives the portrait a firm boundary that the artist appears to inhabit with ease.
Dated 1639, the print combines etching, drypoint and burin work; this impression is the second of two states. The relation between figure and ledge makes the likeness feel deliberately composed, joining an informal bodily position with a strong pictorial structure. Rembrandt presents himself through both expression and bearing. The close placement invites attention to the individual face while the substantial sleeves and stone support give the portrait a measured sense of weight.
Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Rembrandt collection.
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