Pieter van Laer, called II Bamboccio, Magic Scene with Self-Portrait, 1638-39, oil on canvas
Self-portrait were usually done in a traditional way. Less or no movement and more details. However this unusual self-portrait were done in an illusionary way. First, this self-portrait was done during the artist being scared by something terrifying. The gestural lines of his body movement and his expression are very obvious. The artist seems screaming while the evil hands are coming nearer to him from the right side. Although he seems in terror, he looks incredibly funny with those wide opened eyes and mouth. He seems trying to run but he is at the dead end of a corner or an edge.
Although it is an imaginary self-portrait, it is very realistic. The light cast on the artist’s left face, showing that the light source is coming from the devil. The skull and the book on the messy table also tell where the light come from.
The artist seems using a lot of warm and dark color; such as red, orange, yellow, and black, to create an atmosphere of horror. The color red seems saturated and it makes the fingernails of the devil surreal.
There is smoke come out from the skull. Underneath it is burning charcoal. It seems like the guy was casting spells, however, things went wrong. The book on the right and the music notes might be some incantations that makes the devil out.
There is no detail about the background, since it is black, it might be a wall which the guy sits against it.