Artwork
Self-portrait of Gapsar Rem (1542- c. 1617)

Self-portrait of Gapsar Rem (1542- c. 1617) is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Gaspar Rem. It dates from 1614 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
His gaze meets the viewer, suggesting a self‑reflective stance typical of self‑portraits of the period.
The painting shows the artist himself in direct frontal view, clothed in contemporary early‑17th‑century attire with a modest collar and a dark background that emphasizes his figure. His gaze meets the viewer, suggesting a self‑reflective stance typical of self‑portraits of the period. The work functions as both a record of appearance and an assertion of artistic identity, linking the sitter to the tradition of courtly portraiture while highlighting his status within the Habsburg cultural sphere.
Technique & Style
The Self-portrait of Gapsar Rem is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for early seventeenth-century European panel-to-canvas portraiture. The work measures 50 cm in height by 44 cm in width, a modest, near-square format typical of intimate self-portraits intended for private viewing rather than grand display.
Stylistically, the painting is classified as a self-portrait within the broader portrait genre, consistent with the introspective, single-figure format Rem favored. The use of oil as the binding medium allowed for the layered, blended handling characteristic of late Renaissance and early Baroque Northern European practice, though specific brushwork and palette details are not documented in the available records. No condition report or formal stylistic analysis is provided by the cited sources.
History & Provenance
The self-portrait by Gaspar Rem was created in 1614 using oil paint on canvas. The work measures 50 cm in height and 44 cm in width. It is currently held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
No specific details regarding the original commission, the chain of ownership prior to the museum, or the precise circumstances of its creation are provided in the available records.
The Self-portrait of Gaspar Rem is held in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. The painting is cataloged within the museum’s collection, though its specific inventory or accession number is not publicly documented in available sources.
As of the provided records, there is no detailed exhibition history for this work beyond its permanent display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The painting remains part of the institution’s holdings, where it is accessible as part of its portraiture collection.
Overview
Created in 1614, this oil on canvas is a self‑portrait by the Flemish artist Gaspar Rem (1542–c.1617). The work is part of the collection of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and presents the painter at an advanced age, his features rendered with a restrained, contemplative air.
Artist & collection










