Harmensz van Rijn Rembrandt Etchings

The ability to depict an abundance of Christian iconography, coupled with the beautiful prose associated with the work-combine to make this a landmark piece in the canon of Rembrandt's religious works. It is a fair assertion that the Hundred Guilder Print remains Rembrandt's most famous and desirable etched work.

This drypoint etching captures the dramatic moment in which Christ is presented before Pilate. Particularly noteworthy is Rembrandt's unique depiction of the individual expressions of the varied guards. Some smirk while others, such as the guard to the right of Pilate, looks down in shame and dismay, giving each a distinct personality.

This beautiful and poetic Biblical scene would be a great addition to any collection as Rembrandt has exercised artistic genius in his loving and celebratory portrayal of the Holy Family. The value of this piece comes from the fact that it is filled with delicate subtleties. From the offering to the audience to the background, Rembrandt becomes artist and theologian in this piece, providing a visual lamentation and celebration of this miraculous event in Christian history.

Containing finely etched lines in a combination of landscape and figurative studies, this work is radiantly luminescent in the quality of lightness surrounding the central figures.

This work is a lifetime impression which makes the piece extremely valuable as it was created from a plate made while Rembrandt was still alive. The subject is fascinating, as the man appears somewhat wary of his surroundings. The darkness of his face adds to the sense of mystery surrounding this subject making it a very rare and interesting work to own.

This is a lifetime impression, making the work extremely valuable as it was created from a plate made while Rembrandt was still alive. This stately portrait depicts Jan Antonides van der Linden, Professor of Medicine, standing with book in hand. As a viewer, the beauty lies in the fact that the personality of the subject comes alive as we can sense that he is both a wise and prominent figure.

In this striking multiple-portrait etching, Rembrandt depicts his talent for capturing the likeness of his subjects. He highlights his wife Saskia's image above all others, placing her as the largest central figure and bestowing the most detail upon her. This piece offers us a variety of characters, leaving us to wonder if they were all connected in some way, adding a sense of intrigue to this wonderful work.

Arminian Preacher Jan Uytenbogaert was one of the most influential men in Holland up to his exile in 1618. The amount of detail is masterful as Rembrandt uses intricate lines that convey the feel of rich fabric, particularly on Uytenbogaert's collar as well as the fur-lined coat thrown over his shoulders.

According to Nowell Usticke, this print is considered a lifetime impression of which there are approximately 125-225 known impressions of this work making it a rare work to own. Rembrandt's use of rich, textural detail, highlighted by distinct etched lines clearly illuminates the subject's character and sentiment, making the piece multidimensional.

Presenting the viewer with a striking image of Christ on the cross, Rembrandt creates a powerful scene of mourning and reflection. Added value can be found in the beauty encased within the oval border. This border makes the viewer feel as though he or she is glimpsing in on a crucial, tragic moment and sensing the loss and distress felt by the mourning masses beneath Christ's body.

This work is an intriguing account of an old Bible tale from the New Testament. There is a fascinating beauty in the landscape of the stone ruins, which extend into the background and beyond. The two subjects seem to be captured in the midst of the burgeoning conversation as the woman gestures with her hands and Jesus intently listens, making the work captivating and engaging.

Rembrandt's technique of working in "live etching" format is clearly evident in this piece as the portrait has more active and fresh characteristics in the line and technique than in other portraits, which are reflective of the Master Artist's live interaction with his model, his own beloved mother. All of which enable the viewer to glimpse into the relationship and feelings Rembrandt had toward her, making it a truly touching work.

This captivating etching follows the Biblical tale of Jacob and Laban. Through the mastery of Rembrandt's use of line and shadow, Rembrandt adds a sense of depth and perspective to the piece, delineating the architecture of the house to the left and creating a clear foreground. The contrast and detail to scenery, in addition to keeping true to the story, make this work a great addition to any collection.

Abraham Francen, a 17th Century Dutchman, was known as "The Apothecary" which is a historical name for a medical professional for those who created and dispensed medicine. The value in this work is the detail that Rembrandt gave to the surroundings of his subject, which offers us a deep look into the amount of passion Francen had for his profession.

This work is listed as a lifetime impression, and as stated by Nowell-Usticke there are only approximately 125-155 known impressions making it a valuable investment. Rembrandt's technique of working in "live etching" format is clearly evident in this piece as the portrait has more active and fresh characteristics in the line and technique than in other portraits, which are reflective of the Master Artist's live interaction with his model, his own beloved mother. All of which enable the viewer to glimpse into the relationship and feelings Rembrandt had toward her, making it a truly touching work.

Jan Cornelis Sylvius was a wise scholar and closely related to Rembrandt; he was a cousin by marriage and guardian to Saskia, Rembrandt's wife. The amount of respect Rembrandt had for his subject can be seen in this etching with the intricate lines that convey Sylvius's facial characteristics and the delicate cross-hatched lines that contribute a sense of depth and perspective within the work.

Rembrandt captures this volatile scene from the Old Testament brilliantly. Rembrandt's mastery of line, space, and lighting is all on display here making the work a must have for any art collection. Rembrandt creates a brilliant composition divided by light and dark, creating a three dimensional space in which the action takes place at the front and center of the composition.

This original etching brilliantly captures the Biblical tale from the Old Testament of Joseph telling his dreams to a surrounding audience. Rembrandt depicts a diverse audience with both men and women, young and old which, in his mastery of space, creates a balanced composition that clearly highlights the main subject.

Jakob Thomasz Haringh was the son of the elder Jacobsz Haringh (a prominent art auctioneer during the mid-17th century). The younger Jakob Haringh, featured here, is elegantly portrayed in an austere seated position by a multi-paned window. The value and craftsmanship of the work can be seen in the light that streams through and illuminates the majority of the work. This allows for a greater depth of field and sense of space within the portrait, making the work a great addition to any collection.

Beggar with a Wooden Leg is a lifetime impression in which the plate was made during Rembrandt's life. The masterful detail with which Rembrandt depicts this man is classic to his style. In this particular work, Rembrandt creates a stark contrast between light and dark, shrouding the left side of the figure in shadow. This adds an air of mystery to the piece and causes us to ponder the story behind this one-legged beggar.

In this rather dark etching, the brilliance of Rembrandt shines as we are forced to look deeply into the shading for the context of this work. This is one of Rembrandt's more emotional compositions, as we sense the Schoolmaster's urgency to get his children inside the building, perhaps for their own crucial safety.

The Persian is an uncommon print of which there were 125-225 prints made, making this piece quite an asset to any collection. The mastery in Rembrandt's detail of the proud and confident man is quite inspiring and is classic to his style. Aside from the exquisite detail, the value in this work lies in Rembrandt placing his subject at the center of the composition, keeping the background to a minimum in order to highlight this curious subject from foreign lands.

A valuable asset to any art collection, Les Baigneurs (The Bathers) is interesting for many reasons, the most important being the rarity of Rembrandt to depict multiple scenes in one etching. Rembrandt presents three situations. The first features a pair of subjects in the foreground, seemingly caught in action having just come out of the river after their bath. The second features a simplified form of a character reaching for their wrap or towel that appears to be either hanging or drying, as he too has just finished bathing. The third feature depicts a faint, intriguing silhouette of someone either waiting or observing the scene before us, adding a sense of mystery to the work.

According to Nowell-Usticke, this work is a lifetime impression, which means the plate was made during Rembrandt's life. As there are 125-225 known impressions, this work is a great art investment for any collector, old or new. Rembrandt creates a stark contrast between light and dark, with the woman's back turned toward the viewer. We cannot discern where the woman is or what she is doing, but she appears alone and somewhat helpless, a subject evoking human compassion.

Jan Assleyn was a fellow artist in Rembrandt's day. Born in Holland, he was a landscape painter whose works served almost as a journal of his travels. This particular portrait of the painter is a must have because it is a perfect example of Rembrandt's creative vision and innovative techniques in manipulating light throughout his works.

Utilizing strong parallels and a sharp chiaroscuro effect, Rembrandt depicts Saints Peter and John miraculously healing a cripple. This wonderfu work exemplifies Rembrandt's superior talent at balancing his compositions, as the temple gate provides a distinct divide between the foreground and background, highlighting the main subjects to the left while offering a spanning view of the temple beyond.

Rembrandt announces his unmatched talent in even the smallest of etchings. The range of facial expressions and the layered composition in The Tribute Money speak to the artist's creativity and evocative talent as a storyteller.