Portret van Rembrandt 1803 - 1842

This is Anthonie Willem Hendrik Nolthenius de Man's etched portrait of Rembrandt. The most striking element is the hat, casting a shadow that obscures much of Rembrandt’s face. The shadow, a motif that has long resonated through art history, embodies the hidden aspects of the self, much like the concept of the unconscious mind. In antiquity, shadows were associated with the underworld, a liminal space between the world of the living and the world of the dead. This symbolism evolved through the Renaissance and Baroque periods, where shadow and light, or chiaroscuro, were used to dramatize scenes. Consider Caravaggio's use of tenebrism, where darkness envelops figures, revealing only what the artist chooses, guiding the viewer’s emotional response. Here, the shadow performs a similar function, suggesting depth and a world of inner reflection. In psychological terms, the obscured face evokes the Freudian shadow self, where repressed desires and fears reside, subtly engaging viewers on a subconscious level. The cycle continues, as this image will surface again, evolving and accruing new significance.