Alchemist 1639 - 1641

“The Alchemist” is an etching created by Abraham Jacobsz. between 1639-1641 and is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The print depicts an alchemist hunched over a book surrounded by various beakers and other scientific equipment while another person looks on. The scene is filled with details that hint at the scientific and mystical nature of alchemy, a practice popular in the 17th century that sought to transform base metals into gold and achieve immortality.