Beggar with his left hand extended c. 1629

This etching, created around 1629 by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn, depicts a seated beggar with his left hand extended in supplication. Rembrandt's masterful use of line and shading conveys the figure's posture and the texture of his clothing with great detail. The figure's head is bent forward, suggesting a humble demeanor. The drawing is a testament to Rembrandt's early mastery of etching, a technique that involved using acid to etch lines onto a metal plate. "Beggar with his left hand extended" is now part of the Rijksmuseum collection, a testament to Rembrandt's powerful ability to capture the human condition.