[2] The Bagpipe Player was painted 'after life' and is dated to the period of 1638–1640[1] or 1640–1645[3] depending on the sources.

The artist used his own image in a number of other paintings, including the version of As the Old Sing, So the Young Pipe in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Valenciennes, which dates from a slightly later date than the Bagpipe player.

[1] As Jordaens was already a successful artist when he painted the work it is not obvious why he depicted himself as a humble player of a bagpipe, an instrument used in popular music.

In more formal self-portraits, Jordaens has represented himself with a lute, which in the 17th century was regarded as the noblest musical instrument.

Jordaens' depiction of himself as a bagpipe player may be interpreted as a form of self-mockery.