Self-Portrait With a Turban

Today we present an artist we haven't featured before!  The Dutch painter and printmaker Wallerant Vaillant is best known for his engravings, especially his numerous mezzotints (a technique he did much to develop). His painted oeuvre is rarer, largely consisting of portraits and including several self-portraits in which the artist presents himself clothed in a variety of picturesque costumes; for example, as a soldier, distinguished gentleman, or in Orientalist mode as seen here.

He was clearly inspired by the numerous self-portraits of Rembrandt in which the great Dutchman created sartorially-varied likenesses, accentuating expression and social status more than his own entirely true profession. In Amsterdam, Vaillant would have had ample opportunity to witness Rembrandt’s genius because he was obliged for religious motives to seek exile early in his career in the Dutch Republic, where he lived (except for some extended trips abroad) until his death.