"Portrait of a Man in a Red Turban" is the most mysterious painting by Jan van Eyck

The Portrait of a Man in a Red Turban, painted by Jan van Eyck in 1433, has become one of the most enigmatic and debated works of the Renaissance.

The fact that the portrait is written from a strange perspective immediately attracts attention: a man in a dark brown cloak and a red turban looks directly at the viewer with a focused gaze. This method of depiction was quite atypical for its time. Some art historians suggest that the artist could have created a self-portrait by examining his face in a mirror. This approach to painting was quite innovative at the beginning of the 15th century.

The painting's title, Portrait of a Man in a Red Turban, is a later attribution that is known to be inaccurate. The man in the painting is actually wearing a chaperon, a traditional medieval headdress, although the straps are tied higher than usual, which may indicate that Jan van Eyck had practical considerations for comfort while painting.

There is a version that "Portrait of a man in a red turban" could be a demonstration of the artist's skills in front of potential customers. Van Eyck skilfully emphasized his skill in the development of details, illumination and reproduction of inner light, which became his calling card among Renaissance artists.

Also interesting are the words written on the top of the frame: Als Ich Can, which translates as "As I Can." The same phrase can be found on three other works of the artist (for example, a portrait of his wife). Although the phrase is written in Greek letters, it was originally Flemish.

The painting has been in the collection of the National Gallery in London since 1851.