Head of Christ

The Head of Christ is  based on a Jewish model and thus marking a turning-point in the artist's work

Rembrandt’s focus on Jesus’ humanity was a departure from the approach of other artists. Rembrandt’s Jesus is painted without a halo or other religious imagery. The Lord doesn’t look directly at the viewer, instead, He stares off pensively. The background features zero religious context. There are no symbols or imagery suggesting this comes from a biblical narrative. We’re left with an image of Jesus that’s full of both humanity and mystery.

Up until the Dutch Golden Age of art, portraits of Jesus had strong religious qualities. The Lord was depicted as majestic and otherworldly. Many artists were afraid that portraying Christ in a way that was too human would make it difficult to receive church commissions. 

This oil-on-panel painting done in the Baroque style measures 60 x 75.2 cm is now in the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.