Who painted Self portrait?

Self portrait was painted by Ludolf Bakhuizen in 1690-01-01.

Where can I see Self portrait?

Self portrait is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Self portrait?

Self portrait is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Self portrait?

Museum-quality prints of Self portrait are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Self portrait

Ludolf Bakhuizen , 1696

Self portrait is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Ludolf Bakhuizen. It dates from 1696 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

The man's attire and hairstyle are typical of the 17th century, and the painting's style is reminiscent of Dutch Golden Age art.

The painting depicts a man with long, curly hair and a dark coat, holding a rolled-up paper in his left hand. He wears a white collar and has a serious expression on his face. The background is dark, with a subtle gradient of colors that suggests a sense of depth.

The man's attire and hairstyle are typical of the 17th century, and the painting's style is reminiscent of Dutch Golden Age art. The use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of drama and highlights the subject's features.

To learn more about this style of painting, look up the artist Ludolf Bakhuizen.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts the artist Ludolf Bakhuizen himself, serving as a direct visual record of the creator. As a self-portrait executed in 1690, the painting functions primarily as an assertion of the artist's identity and professional presence. The subject is portrayed in the genre of portraiture, focusing entirely on the likeness of Bakhuizen without additional narrative figures or allegorical elements.

The composition centers on the individual, establishing the artist as both the maker and the main subject of the image.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1690, this self-portrait by Ludolf Bakhuizen is an oil painting applied on a wooden panel. The work measures 18.4 cm in height and 14.4 cm in width, indicating a small-scale format typical of intimate portraiture. As a genre piece, it depicts the artist himself as the primary subject.

The combination of oil paint and panel support reflects standard materials used by Dutch artists of the late seventeenth century for durable, detailed likenesses.

History & Provenance

The Self portrait by Ludolf Bakhuizen was created in 1690, executed in oil paint on panel. The work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is currently held. Prior to its institutional ownership, the painting was owned by Mietje van den Brink.

The work has been included in the exhibition "Ludolf Bakhuizen, 1631-1708, schrijfmeester - teykenaer - schilder," which traced aspects of the artist's career.

No specific commission details, intermediate ownership transfers, or earlier provenance steps are documented in the available sources.

Overview

Ludolf Bakhuizen’s self‑portrait, executed in oil in 1696, presents the artist at the height of the Dutch Golden Age. The canvas, now part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection, shows Bakhuizen in a dark, subtly graded background that gives the figure a three‑dimensional presence while maintaining the restrained palette typical of his era.