Despite the closeness of his death, and the concentration on his aging face, Rembrandt makes an impression of a self-assured and confident artist.

Rembrandt depicts himself in deep red coat with fur collar and beret, looking out at the viewer with his hands clasped.

A damaged signature and date were revealed when the painting was cleaned in 1967, and it is believed that the work has been cut down on all four sides.

His sagging blemished face is carefully rendered with many layers of translucent paint, but his robe and the background remains shadowy and the hands are indistinct.

[1] Rembrandt employed his usual rather limited palette of lead white, ochres and red lakes.