The Artist's Mother: Head and Bust Three Quarters Right
Original title: The Artist's Mother: Head and Bust Three Quarters Right
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike most portraits of his mother, this 1628 etching shows only her head and bust in three-quarter profile facing right. Rembrandt van Rijn worked at a small scale of about 7.3 × 6.9 cm in an early phase of his printmaking; this impression is from the second of four states.
Description
An older woman appears with long hair falling over her shoulder, her head turned slightly to the right. She wears a garment with a striking lace-trimmed collar. Black-and-white tones dominate, and contours and textures arise mainly from lines. The face is detailed with visible wrinkles and carries a serious expression. A date and possibly a signature can be made out in the background.
Context
In 1628 Rembrandt was working in Leiden, where he had returned after his training with Pieter Lastman. His mother appears in several early works; she was a recurring subject. The small format and the fact that this is the second of four print states point to an experimental approach.
Impact
An intimate, almost private mood emanates from this print, created by the close-up view and the serious facial expression. The delicate linework gives the impression a fragile, personal note that speaks directly to the viewer.
Technique
In etching, the drawing is incised into a printing plate that is then bitten with acid. The impression was pulled on paper; the fine lines reproduce contours and shading precisely. That four states exist, with the second shown here, indicates later revisions to the plate.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)