Self-portrait

Jan Steen's self-portrait from around 1670 is one of several in which he depicted himself with characteristic wit and self-awareness. Steen was known in his own time as much for his raucous sense of humour as for his undeniable technical skill, and his self-portraits often carry an element of role-playing or ironic self-presentation. By 1670 he was settled in Leiden, where he would live until his death in 1679, and his art had reached full maturity — a blend of moralising narrative, comic theatre, and meticulous observation. The self-portrait asserts his status as a serious artist even as it preserves his characteristically knowing tone.

Steen presents himself in relaxed, informal pose rather than the formal three-quarter stance of official portraiture. The handling is confident and somewhat loose, with warm flesh tones built up from a reddish-brown ground. His expression communicates the lively intelligence that characterises his best figure work.