Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn
(Leiden 1606 - 1669 Amsterdam)
“The Artist’s Mother, Head and Bust: Three quarters right”, 1628
Etching: 7,2 x 7 cm
Signed in monogram and dated upper right:
RHL 1628 (the 2 reversed, in state II)
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Notes
The woman in this print appears in several early etchings by Rembrandt. She has been identified since the late seventeenth century as Rembrandt’s mother Neeltgen Willemsdr. van Zuytbroeck (ca. 1568–1640). In such early prints, when Rembrandt was still exploring the medium of etching, he was nonetheless able to beautifully capture the woman’s age and expression with limited linework.
During his lifetime, Rembrandt’s extraordinary skills as a printmaker were the main source of his international fame. Unlike his oil paintings, prints travelled light and were relatively cheap. For this reason, they soon became very popular with collectors not only within, but also beyond the borders of the Netherlands.
A very fine lifetime impression of the second state with light tone and touches of burr, with the completed bust as well as monogram and date added, yet before the addition of vertical lines to the back of the woman’s head. With an even, 4 mm small margin around the platemark.
Literature
Bartsch 354; The New Hollstein Dutch 5: Second state of (IV)
Plate not in existence – with Nowell-Usticke (1967): R+ A scarce, very desirable plate
Provenance
- Christie’s London, 1993
- Private collection, European
- Private collection, Germany
- Karl & Faber, Munich
- Private Collection, The Netherlands