Self-portrait as Zeuxis Laughing | Rembrandt | c. 1662 Carl Gustav Carus The serpent

The serpent

another terrified woman crouches in resignation

and Central Asia

a swarm of black birds fills the sky

is a dramatic depiction of the biblical story where Jesus calms a violent storm

Self-portrait as Zeuxis Laughing | Rembrandt | c. 1662 Carl Gustav Carus The serpentAbout the artwork: In this remarkable late self portrait, Rembrandt embodies the ancient Greek painter Zeuxis, said to have died from laughter while painting an old woman. With a broad, almost mischievous grin, Rembrandt gazes toward the viewer, his eyes twinkling with wit and weariness. The deep lines across his face and the heavy folds of his skin bear the marks of age and hardship, yet the expression is one of ironic amusementas if the artist is