Rembrandt van Rijn, the master of the Dutch Golden Age, created nearly 100 self-portraits over the course of his 40-year career. These works—comprising paintings, etchings, and drawings—serve as a visual autobiography, charting his rise from a confident young artist to a weary, bankrupt, but deeply wise old man. Rembrandt was a master of 'chiaroscuro,' the use of strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of drama and volume. Unlike his contemporaries, who often idealized their subjects, Rembrandt painted himself with uncompromising honesty, capturing every wrinkle and expression. His most ambitious work, 'The Night Watch,' revolutionized group portraiture by showing figures in dynamic motion rather than a static line. Despite his immense talent, he died in poverty, but he is now celebrated as one of the greatest storytellers in the history of art.