A Polish Nobleman by Rembrandt

Rembrandt's portraits are celebrated for their psychological depth, masterful use of light and shadow, and undeniable realism. He captured not only the physical likeness of his subjects but also a profound sense of their inner lives. His mastery of chiaroscuro — the dramatic contrasts between light and dark — adds a theatrical quality that draws viewers into the world of his sitters. This mastery of light and shadow is exemplified in how he almost always makes the ridge of the sitters nose the dividing line between light and dark, with one half of the face illuminated and the other side shadowy and dark.