Young Man with a Plumed Hat
Artist: Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (Dutch, 1606-1669)
Date: 1631
Dimensions:
32 x 26 in. (81.3 x 66 cm)
Medium: oil on wood panel
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number: 1926.64
Label Text:This young man’s flamboyant feathered cap and gold chain did not reflect contemporary 17th-century Dutch fashion. Rather, the theatricality of his costume suggests that instead of being a portrait of a particular person, this painting portrays an anonymous model. Rembrandt painted many exotically clothed character studies, which he used to examine emotions and states of mind and to display his skill at depicting textures and light effects. These appealing images sold well to Amsterdam’s merchant class, contributing to the young artist’s success in that city after moving from his native Leiden in 1631, the year he painted Young Man with a Plumed Hat.
Here, the shadow falling across the youth’s downcast eyes suggests introspection, adding psychological depth to the painting. During his long career, Rembrandt’s great range, wealth of imagination, and depth of feeling allowed him to express the emotions and complexities of the human condition in a way few artists have equaled.
Here, the shadow falling across the youth’s downcast eyes suggests introspection, adding psychological depth to the painting. During his long career, Rembrandt’s great range, wealth of imagination, and depth of feeling allowed him to express the emotions and complexities of the human condition in a way few artists have equaled.
On view
In Collection(s)