Rembrandt van Rijn was perhaps the most prolific self-portraitist in history. Over the course of his 40-year career, he created nearly 100 self-portraits, including about 40 paintings, 31 etchings, and several drawings. These works serve as a visual autobiography, charting his transformation from a confident, wealthy young artist to a weathered, bankrupt old man. Unlike his contemporaries, Rembrandt did not idealize his features; he used himself to experiment with 'chiaroscuro' (extreme light and dark) and to capture the raw physical signs of aging and emotional turmoil. His self-portraits are celebrated for their psychological depth and honesty. By using his own face as a constant subject, he was able to push the boundaries of portraiture, making it more about the internal soul of the subject rather than just their outward social status.