A Man at a Desk wearing a Cross and Chain (B., Holl. 261; H. 189)

Details

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn
A Man at a Desk wearing a Cross and Chain (B., Holl. 261; H. 189)
etching and drypoint, 1641, second state (of four), a good impression, with narrow to thread margins, with extensive grey wash filling in the uneven edges of the background, pen and ink lines to the sheet edges at the top, left and right, two small indentations at the top sheet edge, pale scattered foxing recto and verso
P. 153 x 103 mm., S. 157 x 108 mm.

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Lot Essay

Until this point Rembrandt had used drypoint very rarely in his portraits, in most cases confining it to the delineation of fur. In this print, however, he experimented with its tonal effects, using it extensively to darken the background initially laid down in etching. With delicate strokes he touched up the features of the face and hair, and this particularly fine impression is notable for its silvery, ethereal quality. Although attempts have been made to identify the sitter it is most probably a genre study, using the same model as The Card Player (lot 145) of the same year.

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