Artwork
Portrait of a Young Bachelor
Portrait of a Young Bachelor is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1634, this oil painting by Rembrandt van Rijn belongs to the Dutch Golden Age. It depicts a solitary male figure and is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is presented in a dark oval frame, wearing a broad black hat edged with a silver band and a lace collar that frames his face. His expression is sober, his short mustache and lightly curled hair suggesting a young bachelor’s modest confidence.
Technique & Style
Rembrandt employs a stark contrast between the dark background and the illuminated face, a hallmark of his chiaroscuro approach. The lace collar is rendered with meticulous attention to the minute folds, giving it a tactile, almost three‑dimensional quality.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum, where it remains on display. It is one of roughly three hundred paintings attributed to Rembrandt, who also produced numerous etchings and drawings throughout his career.
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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