Leiden period (1628-1682) was the preparation period for Rembrandt's self-portrait creation from the beginning to the maturity. Although it was only three or four years, it accumulated experience and laid a solid technical foundation for the later self-portrait creation. The first self-portrait in 1628 (painted wooden board? 6? 122.6×18.7cm? 6? 1 Amsdam National Art Collection), which can be regarded as Rembrandt's practice to show the contrast between light and shadow. However, the trace of deliberate pursuit of fine picture and light and shadow effect is obvious. Self-portrait in 1629 (painted wooden board? 6? 137.9×28.9cm? 6? The Art Collection of Morris Mansion in The Hague is an elegant, confident and handsome young man. The carefully handled light and shadow contrast is moderate, the unique dress makes the painter distinguished, the delicate and smooth brushwork is extremely realistic, and the paintings are exquisite and full of vitality. In 1631, Self-Portrait in Oriental Dress showed the painter's love for exotic clothes, and on the other hand, he saw that the shading was more handy. The self-portrait in this period is not only the reappearance of Rembrandt's frank, sincere and confident mental outlook, but also his exploration of shaping his self-image by Caravaggio shading method, which shows that Rembrandt experimented with his exquisite techniques in the self-portrait to prove the extreme factors.

Ten years of happiness (1632-1742) is a period that Rembrandt can be proud of in art, love and economy. The group portrait "Professor Dupu's Anatomy Class" created in 1632 was a great success, which not only marked the maturity of Rembrandt's artistic innovation, but also greatly improved his reputation and ordered paintings one after another. Getting married with Sass Ji Ya made him feel like a spring breeze in his love life. Self-portrait in 1635-1636 (also known as "the prodigal son in the pub" oil canvas? 6? 1 Dresden National Art Collection) is not only a portrayal of his happy life, but also shows his extraordinary imagination and creativity in self-portrait creation. In 1636, "Self-portrait beside Sasaki" (lithography? 6? 11.4×9.5cm? 6? Elmy Tashi Art Collection in St. Petersburg), although the frame is very small, he still uses exquisite copperplate forms and contrast between light and shade to depict the quiet and dignified style of Sass Ji Ya and her calm and persistent attitude. The self-portrait in 164 was dressed in 16th-century-style clothes, with dignified eyes. This painting pays attention to the expression and tries to be realistic in detail. This is the first time that he has painted a self-portrait with Rembrandt, which fully shows his maturity and confidence in art. This decade is the happiest one in Rembrandt's life, but the mental pain of three children who died one after another can still be found in the self-portraits in 1636 and 164. This period is a transitional period for Rembrandt's self-portrait creation.

In the self-portrait of middle and old age (1642-1669), Rembrandt described the real experience and state of mind with skillful expression, and the spiritual power conveyed by the painting was particularly touching. British art historian Kenneth? 6? In his book Preface to Rembrandt, Clark wrote: "Even people who have no interest in painting will be moved by the form that other painters can't see in his works. He seems to have been digging into the roots of life and showing his inner world to us. " 1642 was an extremely difficult year for Rembrandt. The sudden death of his beloved wife, Sass Ji Ya, made his emotional pain to the extreme, and the huge oil painting Night Patrol (oil canvas? 6? 1363×437cm? 6? Although it represents the highest achievement of his artistic creation, the unanimous censure of the orderer and public opinion has made his spiritual life worse. Perhaps the mental pain made him unable to face himself. In the 194s, Rembrandt seldom painted self-portraits, but turned his energy to the creation of a series of works called Holy Path. Such as "Sancta familia" in 164 (painted wooden board? 6? 141×36cm? 6? Sancta familia and Angels in 1645 and Sancta familia and the Cat in 1646 (oil canvas? 6? 146.5×68.5cm? 6? 1 Kassel National Art Collection), etc., which shows his understanding of life and the sustenance of family in the process of humanistic interpretation of the Bible. Since then, Rembrandt has paid more attention to the spiritual expression in the connotation of life in his self-portraits.