Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn
(Leiden 1606-1669 Amsterdam)
“The Ringball or Kolf Player” (‘Het Klosbaantje’), 1654
Etching: 9,7 x 14,5 cm
signed and dated lower left: ‘Rembrandt f. 1654’
watermark fragment: Hare, A.b. 4
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Notes
In Rembrandt’s oeuvre, this is also one of the very rare subject-matters connected with sports and leisure time. Although the title refers to golf the sport depicted is actually a form of indoor croquet called beugelen, which involves a spade-like scoop. It was a popular pastime in 16th and 17th century Holland.
An exceptionally fine lifetime impression of the first state, showing the same watermark like the impressions in the British Museum and the Rijksmuseum with rich relief in the shadowed areas, fine vertical scratches in the white rectangle on the left side and inky plate edges. Printed with a soft, atmospheric plate tone.
This sheet is among Rembrandt’s rare depictions of sports and leisure, illustrating a game of kolf, traditionally played on narrow lanes and considered a historical predecessor to modern golf.
Literature
Bartsch 125; White/Boon 125;
The New Hollstein Dutch 282: the first state (of II),
Plate in existence – with Nowell-Usticke (1967): C1
Provenance
- Paul Davidsohn (1839 Danzig –Berlin 1924), verso collector’s stamp (Lugt 654);
- Sotheby’s, London, 2010
- Private collection, Germany
- Karl & Faber, Munich
- Private collection, The Netherlands