From a dark background emerges the sharply lit face of a man, whose smooth features reveal the lingering traces of youth. The prominent nose, distinctive thin moustache, fleshy lower lip and slightly receding chin connect the work to a number of self-portraits by Vaillant that are now in Hannover, Berlin, Paris, The Hague and Frankfurt. Vaillant evidently cultivated a strong penchant for self-portraiture, and his employment in the genre of a variety of costumes, including fantastical ones, reveals the role played by Rembrandt’s work as an inspiration. Nevertheless, Vaillant’s Flemish origins and training are betrayed in his smooth facture and use of cool greyish tones.