Self-Portrait with Saskia, 1636
Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijnexpand_more
Etchingexpand_more
Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more 2009.71.1
Not on Viewexpand_more
Self portrait with Saskia, made in 1636, shows Rembrandt pausing in his work. His hand has gone slack on the stylus. He and his wife stare out at us. It is as though we have interrupted them. Rembrandt was of course gazing into a mirror, where he saw Sakia at the table, serving as partner, model, and muse. The novel image fits into no clear pictorial tradition. Though twenty-first-century sensibilities may spark criticism of the unequal scale of husband and wife, in the context of the seventeenth century, the image is one of remarkable intimacy. This impression is unusually fine and well preserved.
Details
- Title
- Self-Portrait with Saskia
- Artist Life
- 1606–1669
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2009.71.1
- Provenance
- Richard Harris (Chicago); C. G. Boerner (New York); Bruce Dayton (Wayzata, MN)
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Hind 144, Bartsch 19, White-Boon (i of iii)
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.