Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669), Self-portrait etching at a window, 1648

For this 1648 self-portrait, Rembrandt van Rijn accented the contrasts between light and dark to create a three-dimensional image. He also employed the chiaroscuro technique, which entails the careful use of light and shade, to emphasize certain parts of his face and background others. This produces a fascinating vividness and depth in his portrait.

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669), Self-portrait etching at a window, etching, 160 mm x 130 mm, 1648; source: Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, inv. no. RP-P-1972-46, http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.35690, public domain.