The DIA welcomes one of Rembrandt van Rijnās masterpieces as a āguest of honorā from Dec. 19, 2014 to Dec. 13, 2015. Self-Portrait with Shaded Eyes is on loan from the Leiden Collection, New York. The painting is one of 40 self-portraits Rembrandt painted, and remained undiscovered for more than three centuries.
Self-Portrait with Shaded Eyes features a 28-year-old Rembrandt wearing a fur coat and a beret that casts a shadow over his eyes. The painting wasnāt discovered until 1995, more than three centuries after it was created in 1634. It had been hidden under another portrait thought to be painted by one of Rembrandtās students. In 1995, an X-ray revealed the signed Rembrandt self-portrait.
Rembrandt started painting self-portraits in the late 1620s and tended to portray himself wearing berets, fanciful costumes and accessories. His self-portraits stand out from those of other artists because of his endless variety and creativity. Although he painted the same subject 40 times, no two self-portraits look quite alike.
Self-Portrait with Shaded Eyes will be on display in the Dutch gallery on the third floor and is free with museum admission. Also on view in the same gallery are three of the DIAās Rembrandt paintings, The Weeping Woman, The Visitation and Titus.