Page 34 - International Artist2 110

Rembrandt, Self-portrait Etching at a Window, 1648,
etching, 156 x 130 mm. Art Institute of Chicago

great advances in science, military, trade
and art. This created an economic expansion
fueled by expanding wealth and power. As
a new nation, the Dutch developed a ready
market for works of art that honored the new
country and its land.
With his family’s support, Rembrandt
began four years of apprentice and training
focused on etching and painting. This led
to the opening of his own studio, in his late
teens, in the town of Leiden where he was
born. He later moved to the larger city of
Amsterdam. In the beginning, Rembrandt
faced a similar problem as many artists
do today in that there was a great deal of
art being produced at the time, and he
struggled to find a way to garner enough
recognition to build a client base. His
breakthrough came through his portrait Rembrandt, Self-portrait with Two Circles, 1665-69, oil, 114.3 x 94 cm. Kenwood House, London.
work, and he built on this reputation as he
expanded into other genres.
Rembrandt’s first self-portraits were passing, you can get a deep sense of the Johannes Vermeer and Franz Hals constitutes
dated 1628, and they were small etchings of man and the artist. For the viewer, there is some of Holland’s greatest treasurers and
a young, plain artist, with an exaggerated something more profound in Rembrandt’s represents the finest work produced during the
expression, as if he was “mugging” for the work than what you would find in a quick Dutch Golden Age.
portrait. Self-portraits were not uncommon “selfie” photograph. There is a confidence
among artists of the time; however, in the strokes that comes from a full
Rembrandt was the first to turn the practice understanding of the subject. Honesty and
into an autobiographical record. These talent such as this will always have value and
works were considered better than his stand out.
commissioned portraits due to their direct So, what does Rembrandt have to teach
and forceful execution. They share the joys us? By redefining the common self-portrait
and tragedies of a lifetime and even today, Rembrandt left the world a great gift that Edward Jonas,
across the span of the 350 years since his together with the works of fellow countrymen Chairman

The Portrait Society of America 33

Portrait Society.indd 33 6/29/16 2:56 PM