Compare a selection of Self-Portraits by Rembrandt with those of an earlier artist, such as Durer or Titian. Write within either the subjective frame, showing how the artists revealed their personality, or the cultural frame, reflecting the cultural and artistic influences of their time.
Many artists were influenced by the styles and techniques of Titian, one of these being Rembrandt. Titian was known as a recognised master of the High renaissance style of art. He was unique and entreprenerial but at the same time created his own ideas which inflicted influences of others, in this case, Rembrandt. Titian's reputation in portraiture is what really made him, his imaginative interpretations of ancient legends and classical allegories were where his artistic powers reached their heights. Titan represented his concepts with originality in mood and a new sense of beauty, revolutionising somewhat and establishing the representation of nude females. Through all of these attributes that Titian held, Rembrandts style and ideas were formed. Titian was also 16th Century artist, this time period also had a great influence on Rembrandt, as can be seen in his, "Self-Portrait in a Stand-Up Collar." In this portrait, Rembrandt chose not to paint himself in contemporary clothes but in sixteenth century atire. This change in attire reveals his interst in masters of the past. By using his historical costume he is able to distance himself from here-and-now. This helps to instill his observations in moods. His art not only communicates to others, but is also a means of self-expression. There are often many ambiguous meanings to these symbols as we could take different perspectives to this in one side believing that Rembrandt was fond of the 16th Century and liked every part of it, in the styles which he adapted and also the clothing, or we could take it to say that Rembrandt was portraying himself in a different character as to what he had done in the past, through usage of thsoe distancing techniques mentioned.
