Self-Portrait, Drawing

This charming self-portrait shows the young artist, eyes wide, gazing intently into an unseen mirror as he carefully draws himself. Rarely has a self-portrait so modestly and naturalistically depicted the practice of drawing. The scarf that sweeps down onto the table over his hand underscores the artist's complete absorption in his work; so engrossed is he that he has not moved the cloth out of the way. The artist's figure is lit from the left. His hat casts a gentle shadow across his face. The lighting is reminiscent of etchings made by Rembrandt about the same time including the Portrait of Clement de Jonghe and Rembrandt's Self Portrait by a Window. Jan Lutma the Younger was a printmaker and silversmith. He was the son of the silversmith Jan Lutma the Elder who was famously portrayed in etching by Rembrandt.