Old Man with Divided Fur Cap
Original title: Old Man with Divided Fur Cap
kurzbeschreibung
Dated 1640, Rembrandt's portrait of an old man wearing a fur-trimmed cap captures a weathered face turned to the right, one hand resting against his cheek. This bust-length etching, with touches of drypoint, is seen here in its first state.
Description
A fur-bordered cap frames the man's head, while thick, wavy white hair flows down as a beard onto his chest. His right hand lies against his cheek, as if testing the beard's growth or stroking the hair. He wears a jacket whose pattern emerges from fine lines. The background remains almost white and indistinct, making the figure stand out sharply. In the upper left, the signature "Rembrandt" and the year 1640 appear.
Context
Made in 1640, during a period of intense engagement with portrait prints, this etching comes from Amsterdam, where Rembrandt worked as a sought-after portraitist. Studies of old men recur throughout his oeuvre, serving him to explore character and age. The presence of the first state means the plate was initially left without further reworking.
Impact
Precise lines and the exact rendering of beard and garment give the head great immediacy. Because the background stays nearly white, attention falls on the expression and the position of the hand; a quiet, inward mood results.
Technique
Etching and drypoint combine here to produce very fine, controlled lines. The plate measures 15.2 x 13.7 cm and was printed on paper. The process allows high fidelity, especially for textures such as fur and fabric.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)