Who painted Self-portrait of Gapsar Rem (1542- c. 1617)?

Self-portrait of Gapsar Rem (1542- c. 1617) was painted by Gaspar Rem in 1614.

Where can I see Self-portrait of Gapsar Rem (1542- c. 1617)?

Self-portrait of Gapsar Rem (1542- c. 1617) is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is Self-portrait of Gapsar Rem (1542- c. 1617)?

Self-portrait of Gapsar Rem (1542- c. 1617) is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Self-portrait of Gapsar Rem (1542- c. 1617)

Gaspar Rem , 1614

Self-portrait of Gapsar Rem (1542- c. 1617) is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Gaspar Rem. It dates from 1614 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1614, this oil on canvas is a self‑portrait by the Flemish artist Gaspar Rem (1542–c.1617). The work is part of the collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and presents the painter at an advanced age, his features rendered with a restrained, contemplative air.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas shows Rem with a full, greying beard and mustache, his gaze directed outward yet slightly withdrawn. Dressed in a dark fur‑trimmed collar over a light shirt, his expression carries a faint frown, suggesting introspection and the sober self‑assessment common among artists of the early seventeenth century.

Technique & Style

Rem employs a subtle chiaroscuro, allowing the dark, unadorned background to recede while the illuminated face emerges in soft gradations of light and shadow. The fur collar is rendered with textured brushwork that catches highlights, adding a tactile richness that contrasts with the smooth modeling of the skin.

History & Provenance

The portrait entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings in the early nineteenth century, where it has remained a representative example of Rem’s late oeuvre. Its attribution to the artist is supported by the signature and the documented lifespan of Rem, who died around 1617, shortly after completing this work.