portrait of a young man with a scarf

This 1638 portrait of a young man with a scarf belongs to the character studies and tronies that Dou produced early in his career following the example of his teacher Rembrandt. Tronies — expressive head studies of anonymous figures in distinctive costumes or with characteristic expressions — served both as artistic exercises and as salable works in their own right. The scarf suggests an exotic or theatrical element that was typical of Rembrandt's influence on his pupils: the use of costumes, hats, and accessories to create visual interest and suggest characters from history or fantasy. The 1638 date makes this one of Dou's early career works, still close to his Rembrandt training period.

The scarf's fabric texture contrasts with the smooth skin of the young man's face, demonstrating Dou's developing mastery of varied surface qualities within a single small-format composition.