Self-Portrait with Saskia 1636
rembrandtvanrijn
minneapolisinstituteofart
print, etching
portrait
self-portrait
baroque
dutch-golden-age
etching
figuration
Rembrandt van Rijn's "Self-Portrait with Saskia" is a powerful etching that captures the essence of the artist's love for his wife. Completed in 1636, the intimate portrait depicts Rembrandt and Saskia, who is partially obscured, seated next to each other. This etching is considered a remarkable example of Rembrandt's mastery of line and light, effectively conveying the couple's connection. This etching, now housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, demonstrates the artist's skillful use of etching techniques to capture detail and emotion.
Comments
Self portrait with Saskia, made in 1636, shows Rembrandt pausing in his work. His hand has gone slack on the stylus. He and his wife stare out at us. It is as though we have interrupted them. Rembrandt was of course gazing into a mirror, where he saw Sakia at the table, serving as partner, model, and muse. The novel image fits into no clear pictorial tradition. Though twenty-first-century sensibilities may spark criticism of the unequal scale of husband and wife, in the context of the seventeenth century, the image is one of remarkable intimacy. This impression is unusually fine and well preserved.
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
CollectMore like this
