Trautmann, who lived in Frankfurt from his time as a journeyman, painted primarily history and genre paintings as well as character heads, so-called tronies. His prototypes were Dutch paintings of the 17th century, especially those of Rembrandt. Trautmann was popular with Frankfurt collectors; Goethe’s father Johann Caspar also purchased several of his paintings. In this self-portrait he shows himself with the attributes of his trade, brush and paint palette, and looks directly out at the viewer.