Artwork
Portrait of a man
Portrait of a man is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1633 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
This oil-on-canvas portrait, created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1633, is characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age. It features a solitary male figure and is currently housed in the Alte Pinakothek collection.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a man dressed in a black cloak and wide-brimmed hat, with a contrasting white collar. His hands are posed—one on his chest, the other holding a folded paper or cloth—conveying a sense of contemplation or introspection.
Technique & Style
Rembrandt employed chiaroscuro, a hallmark of his period, to create dramatic depth. Dark shadows envelop the figure, sharply accentuating his face and drawing the viewer’s attention to it.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1633, this work falls within a productive period for Rembrandt, marked by numerous portraits and experiments with light and narrative. Its provenance is established through its inclusion in the Alte Pinakothek collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.
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