The painting itself is a self-portrait.

The sitter, Rembrant, commands the scene, his full body widely
displayed across the width of the canvas. His posture is loose and relaxed, giving us the sense of
complete control within the painting. The character of the work comes not only from the sitter but
the dark backgrounds engulfing him. This style is formally called chiaroscuro, an Italian term for a
style using strong lights and heavy shadows to create depth in a painting and a center of interest.

His style encapsulates elegance and wealth, with notably unsubtle displays of grandeur in terms of
the lavish, bright golds adorning his jacket. Beneath this we see he wears a shirt of light cream, and
around his waist is tied a deep red sash, which itself conveys a sense of royalty and high status.
Clasped in his left hand we see what appears to be a cane, and draped over his shoulders is a deep
brown robe, again adding a touch of authority towards the sitter.

When observing the face, undoubtedly the focal point of the piece and the expression in holds, we
see a return of the commanding yet composed feeling that Rembrandt’s body language displays.
Rembrandt stares into the onlooker, his expression calm yet stern. We see a true representation of
age, where no effort to flatter or hide detail has been attempted. Rembrandts face is heavy with the
turmoil and stress of his life, his sagging jowls and deep wrinkled skin a testament to that fact.