Self-Portrait in a Cap, Open-Mouthed 1630

This is Rembrandt van Rijn’s “Self-Portrait in a Cap, Open-Mouthed,” an etching made sometime during his career in the Dutch Golden Age. During the 17th century, the Dutch Republic saw the rise of a new, wealthy middle class. This new demographic fostered a booming art market, one in which artists like Rembrandt produced numerous self-portraits. Rembrandt made many self-portraits throughout his life, each capturing different emotional states and stages of life. This etching presents Rembrandt with wide eyes and an open mouth. The loose lines of the etching capture a sense of immediacy and raw emotion. We see him here not as the celebrated master, but as a man experiencing a moment of surprise or shock. This democratization of the artist's image speaks to the changing relationship between artists and their public during this time. In a society that was rapidly changing, Rembrandt captures a vulnerability that transcends time.