Man in Oriental Clothing, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1635
oil on panel, h 72cm × w 54.5cm More details
Rembrandt plays with light in a singular manner. Here it floods the man’s turban and the right side of his face like a powerful spotlight. The left side remains in shadow. Such character-like heads – not portraits – were popular in the 17th century. Called ‘Turkish tronies’, they were widely copied and imitated from an early date.