Elsje Christiaens Hanging on a Gibbet (1664, Met-Objekt 5089)
Original title: Elsje Christiaens Hanging on a Gibbet
kurzbeschreibung
Rembrandt drew the executed Elsje Christiaens hanging from the gallows in 1664. Executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash, the sheet measures 17.1 x 9.1 cm. It is a rare study of a criminal made on the spot after the execution.
Description
A woman hangs upright, both arms clasping the gallows, which consists of a post and a crossbeam. Her clothing recalls traditional Renaissance dress. Brown and grey tones dominate, with delicate shading modelling the surfaces of the figure and its surroundings. The paper looks slightly rough and shows signs of age.
Context
In 1664 Elsje Christiaens was executed in Amsterdam for the murder of her housekeeper. Rembrandt went to the execution site and drew the body. Studies of this kind were common in the seventeenth century, combining anatomical interest with moral reflection. The sheet belongs to a group of drawings from Rembrandt's late years.
Impact
The sober, exact rendering gives the sheet an immediate, unvarnished presence. Few tones and the central placement of the figure create a concentrated, serious mood. Despite the cruel circumstances, the dignity of the dead woman is preserved.
Technique
For the contours and details Rembrandt used pen and brown ink; shadow areas were washed in with a brown brush. The wash allows soft transitions and a modelled, three-dimensional body. The medium-weight paper has a slight grain that gives the drawing a lively surface.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)