Rembrandt dignifies his colleague, the landscape painter Jan Asselyn (1610-1652), whose deformed hand earned him the nickname of Krabbetje (little crab) and whose disjointed nose, homely face and short stature invited further ridicule. His height is elevated by a tall hat. His deformed left hand is concealed by a ruffled lace cuff tucked jauntily against his hip. His costume and pose convey an appearance of prosperity and self-esteem in defiance of his physical shortcomings.