Artwork
Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Carel de Moor. It dates from 1670 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes the artist's direct engagement with the viewer, reinforcing themes of artistic identity and professional self-presentation.
The Self-Portrait depicts the artist Carel de Moor looking directly at the viewer, presenting himself as both subject and creator. The work functions as a formal record of his appearance and status within the Dutch artistic community of the late 17th century. Painted in oil on panel in 1670, it measures 21.5 cm by 17 cm and was created in Amsterdam.
The composition emphasizes the artist's direct engagement with the viewer, reinforcing themes of artistic identity and professional self-presentation. It was later owned by Daniel Franken before entering the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
Technique & Style
Carel de Moor's Self-Portrait is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, a support typical of small-scale Dutch portraiture of the period. The work is modest in size, measuring 21.5 cm in height by 17 cm in width, an intimate format suited to a personal likeness rather than a formal commission.
The painting is classified as a portrait within the genre of self-portraiture, depicting the artist himself as its sole subject. No further details regarding handling, condition, or specific stylistic qualities are documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
Carel de Moor created the oil-on-panel self-portrait in 1670. The work measures 21.5 cm in height and 17 cm in width. Historical records indicate that the painting was once owned by Daniel Franken before entering the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is currently held.
The 1670 oil-on-panel self-portrait by Carel de Moor is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work measures 21.5 cm in height and 17 cm in width. While the painting is currently part of the museum's holdings, historical records indicate it was previously owned by Daniel Franken.
The provided sources do not contain specific accession numbers or a detailed chronology of exhibitions for this specific artwork.
Context
Carel de Moor's 1670 Self-Portrait, an oil on panel measuring 21.5 cm by 17 cm, was painted during the Dutch Golden Age and exemplifies the era's focus on individual likeness and introspective portraiture. The work, housed in the Rijksmuseum and originally owned by Daniel Franken, reflects the artist's position within the tradition of Dutch portraiture and his engagement with contemporary themes of identity and representation. Scholarship highlights its significance as a self-referential image within the broader context of 17th-century Dutch art, contributing to discussions on artistic authorship and visual culture.
Overview
Created circa 1670, this oil on canvas self‑portrait presents the Dutch painter Carel de Moor at a relatively young age. The composition is tightly focused on the sitter, set against an unadorned dark backdrop that isolates his face and upper torso. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection, representing the artist’s personal visual record within the broader Dutch Golden Age tradition.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Carel de Moor (25 February 1655 – 16 February 1738) was a Dutch Golden Age etcher and painter. He was a pupil of the Dutch Golden Age painter Gerard Dou.












