Rembrandt made it a rule to write self-portraits, but rarely portrayed himself at work. In essence, this is the second of a series of self-portraits, on which he appears with an easel, tassels and a ram used by painters as a support for his hands. The light in the background is an unusual technique necessary for the viewer to see curved lines on the wall behind the portrait being backed up.
Many explanations have been suggested; Nowadays, the popular version is: these lines are a link to the works of such legendary artists as Apelles and Giotto, who demonstrated their skills by drawing one perfectly correct line or circle. If this explanation is correct, the self-portrait asserts the artist’s right to be considered an authentic master of his time.
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