Rembrandt made a remarkable number of self-portraits if I remember correctly. Presumably he liked what he saw or it was a case of striving for perfection. Or perhaps just recording his changing characteristics. Qui sait?
There .... nothing changes ..... people have always been obsessed with the way they look, even in the 17th century. He didn't hide his imperfections though like most on Facebook !!! Good for you RH. I am always amazed at the photographic quality of a beautifully painted portrait. XXXX
In the mid-60's I managed a West End gallery. We had quite a few small 'later state' Rembrandt etchings. Their value depends on which 'state' they are. If they are a first pressing, they are worth quite a bit, but as they were re-worked and re-worked the later pressings are worth almost nothing. If he still has it, cross your fingers that it's an early state.
I bet he wouldn't have used Photoshop even if it had been available! I always feel that he seemed comfortable in his own skin and actually preferred interesting faces to "beautiful" ones.
It's like "Really? How did I get so old? I don't feel this old. I can't be this old." The same conversation I have with myself every morning when I look in the mirror.
I expect most painted self-portraits are reasonably honest; mine have always been so. I don't think trying to make oneself more attractive began until Photoshop appeared.
22 comments:
Here we have the first known selfie obsessed
I was thinking the same.
The nose is slightly more bulbous and the hairstyle and hat are wrong, but other than that he looks remarkably like our plumber, Steve Rembrandt.
Thank goodness he's a Plumber and not a Painter.
I like how he managed to bring out the expression on his face; he doesn't look very impressed himself.
Greetings Maria x
Rembrandt made a remarkable number of self-portraits if I remember correctly. Presumably he liked what he saw or it was a case of striving for perfection. Or perhaps just recording his changing characteristics. Qui sait?
He was a 'warts-n-all' painter, and he probably didn't much like what he saw.
...of himself.
X
I think he simply wanted to record the ageing process.
Exactly.
Next time I see him I'll try to take a photograph; the resemblance is very strong.
There .... nothing changes ..... people have always been obsessed with the way they look, even in the 17th century. He didn't hide his imperfections though like most on Facebook !!! Good for you RH. I am always amazed at the photographic quality of a beautifully painted portrait. XXXX
My step father had one of his etchings. He acquired it after buying a job lot of pictures so that he could use the glass to build a greenhouse.
I thought this particular S/P was one of his best.
In the mid-60's I managed a West End gallery. We had quite a few small 'later state' Rembrandt etchings. Their value depends on which 'state' they are. If they are a first pressing, they are worth quite a bit, but as they were re-worked and re-worked the later pressings are worth almost nothing. If he still has it, cross your fingers that it's an early state.
Remember that morphing video I put up which shows him going from a young man to an old one?
I do; it was excellent.
I bet he wouldn't have used Photoshop even if it had been available! I always feel that he seemed comfortable in his own skin and actually preferred interesting faces to "beautiful" ones.
It's like "Really? How did I get so old? I don't feel this old. I can't be this old." The same conversation I have with myself every morning when I look in the mirror.
I expect most painted self-portraits are reasonably honest; mine have always been so. I don't think trying to make oneself more attractive began until Photoshop appeared.
I've given-up Donna. Now I let that mirror tell the truth without arguing.
It's the X factor which makes a genius. You cannot learn it or buy it. You just have it or not. Rembrandt did.Thank you for reminding me.
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