Jan van Eyck, Portrait of a Man in a Red Turban (Self-Portrait?), 1433

Jan van Eyck, Portrait of a Man in a Red Turban (Self-Portrait?), 1433, oil on oak panel, 26 x 19 cm (The National Gallery, London)
Speakers: Dr. Steven Zucker & Dr. Beth Harris
. Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.

[@marinoseys2908]

A true Masterpiece reflecting the Master himself! ❤️

[@olgabai3111]

I enjoyed the sounds of the gallery, it feels more authentic and it helps to imagine myself being there in the gallery.

[@mrstiggy8905]

his elaborate drawing ,i respect. and sometimes he has a sense of humor in the work.

[@magicknight13]

One of the all time greats! I consider him the greatest painter of all time

[@Sasha0927]

I love the deep, bold red of that turban. The "as I can" inscription is especially meaningful to me today. The message in church was essentially to do as you can and let the Lord supplement, going even beyond what you would: "As I [AM] can." Some nice unexpected confirmation there. The Art Tourist did a van Eyck video. Maybe now that I'm acquainted with a few videos, I can check that out and better appreciate it.

[@phtoed]

ok inscriptions, no it is his eyes, peering at himself, and through himself to the passage of time, to us and to eternity

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

You should have mentioned the size of the painting. The face is about the size of one quarter of the palm of one's hand. Also, painters often wrapped a "turban" around their heads to keep hairs from falling onto the painting and sticking in the sticky oil paint.

[@Ferrus91]

There are sometimes thoughts in these that seem frustratingly allusive and I prefer to have developed... the date suggests that the painter a specific way of seeing time. The appeal to ancient forms actually suggests less a personal view of time and more an appeal to a patron of the historicality of his work. It strikes me as less an existential meditation but more specifically an appeal to his craftmanship within a well defined historical social tradition.

[@asderc1]

Ferrus91 But hey, wasn't it more interesting to develop those points yourself?

[@chillie56]

yes!

[@tanya_happyrich]

So this sort of frame around the portrait is also painted and flat or is this a real frame?

[@smarthistory-art-history]

It is a real frame that is painted to create the illusion that the surface has letters carved into it.

[@tanya_happyrich]

@@smarthistory-art-history it means that it's not a real frame, but painted frame) I guess that what you were trying to say. why I ask, I want to understand if the frame is included in the dimensions of the painting (26x19 cm) or not.

[@hanabaric5607]

@@tanya_happyrich i think it's a real frame ( of wood ) painted gold and with painted letters on it, i think so at least...

[@opticalmixing23]

How long did it take to paint?

[@shreyasshankar4109]

I think it says 'As I am' He is aged. He is balding, rues his old-age and covers it up with a turban.. But he adores his talent. So he may be saying I am as I can portray myself. I would like to say this when I hold my brush one last time.

[@L-mo]

Very interesting

[@wereallmadhere]

1:23 "I can... Eyck can" This works fine in English, but it doesn't work very well in Flemish: /ɑls ik kɑn/ ^/ɑls ɛik Kɑn/

[@morganel9649]

he looks like tywin Lannister

[@jaimierose2985]

I had the same thought haha

[@joana7497]

Remove the noise of the background please.

[@smarthistory-art-history]

We think that noise, the background sounds of the gallery when open to the public, is an important reminder that this is a recording of a conversation that took place in front of the painting. It is not scripted or recorded in a sound studio.