Man with Divided Cap by Rembrandt van Rijn
$38,500.00
1606-1669 | Dutch
Man with Divided Cap
Etching and drypoint on paper
First state of three
Signed "Rembrandt" (upper left)
This exceptional etching was composed by one of the supreme geniuses in the history of art, Rembrandt van Rijn. The subject of this particular impression, an old man wearing a divided fur cap, wears a calm countenance, gazing to the right of the composition. Likely a portrait of a fictional character inspired by Biblical narratives, his long grizzled beard and wrinkled eyes bear testament to the sitter's age, appearing wise and weathered. Created at a critical moment in the prime of his career, the work exhibits Rembrandt’s unparalleled ability to create an expressive portrait with a simple etching needle and a copper plate. Other examples of this etching can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago, among others.
The son of a miller, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn is believed to have been born in Leiden on July 15, 1606. He studied first at the Latin School, and then was enrolled at the University of Leiden at the age of 14. He soon left to study art—first with a local master, Jacob van Swanenburch, and then, in Amsterdam, with Pieter Lastman, known for his historical paintings. Rembrandt was an exceptionally gifted student and mastered his art in a mere six months. By 22 years old, he returned to Leiden and was soon so highly regarded that he was able to take students of his own.
Though known today primarily for his paintings, Rembrandt’s fame spread outside of the Netherlands through his etchings. He made hundreds of etchings for most of his career, from 1626 to 1660, when he was forced to sell his presses. He did etchings of several subjects, including self-portraits, biblical subjects, saints and allegories, and his work was avidly admired and collected, even during his lifetime. These small works of art are still counted among the most beautifully executed in the whole of art history.
Etched 1640
Paper: 5 7/8" high x 5 3/8" wide (14.92 x 13.63 cm)
Frame: 20 1/4" high x 16 1/4" wide x 7/8" deep (51.44 x 41.28 x 2.94 cm)
Literature:
Bartsch, Adam. Le Peintre-Graveur, Vol. 1. Vienna: Kunstverlag, 1803. No. 265, State I/II
Hind, Arthur M. A Catalogue of Rembrandt’s Etchings. London: Methuen, 1923. No. 170, State I/III
Biörklund, George. Rembrandt's Etchings: True and False. Stockholm: Esselte, 1968. No. 40-A, State I/II
Münz, Ludwig. Rembrandt’s Etchings. London: Phaidon, 1952. No. 59
New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Rembrandt, ed. Erik Hinterding and Jaco Rutgers. Ouderkerk aan den IJssel: Sound & Vision Publishers, 2013. No. 182, State I/II