Self-portrait with raised sabre
Medium
etching
Dimensions
124; 102
About this artwork
collector's mark: Lugt 119
Art Historical Context
In 1634, Rembrandt vanijn, the brilliant Dutch Baroque master, created this dynamic *Self-portrait with Raised Sabre*, an etching measuring just 124mm by 102mm. At age 28, Rembrandt was establishing himself in Amsterdam after moving from Leiden, capturing his image in a bold, theatrical pose with sabre aloft—evoking a sense of fierce determination and youthful vigor. This small-scale print exemplifies his early prowess in self-portraiture, a genre he would explore obsessively throughout his career, producing over 80 variations to probe identity, emotion, and aging. Rembrandt's etching techniq...
About the Artist
Rembrandt van Rijn · 1606–1669
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606–1669) stands as one of the greatest visual artists in the history of Western art and the most important Dutch painter of the 17th century. Born in Leiden to a prosperous miller's family, Rembrandt transformed painting through his revolutionary use of light and shadow, his psychological depth in portraiture, and his elevation of etching to a fine art. His approx...