Self-portrait in Oriental Dress

Rembrandt's 1631 Self-portrait in Oriental Dress is a theatrical exercise in which he presents himself in exotic Eastern costume — turban, gold chain, and rich fabrics — as a demonstration of his ability to inhabit different roles and to render luxurious materials. Such 'fancy dress' self-portraits were a category he enjoyed throughout his career, and they served both as technical demonstrations and as comments on the artist as performer. The 1631 date makes it a Leiden-period or very early Amsterdam work; these early costume self-portraits were popular with collectors and helped establish his early fame.

The turban and gold chain catch the light with loaded, impastoed strokes. The background is dark and warm, giving full prominence to the elaborately dressed figure. Rembrandt's handling of the varied fabric textures — the silk turban, the fur-lined collar — is already highly accomplished for the early date.