Rembrandt's moeder met haar hand op haar borst: kleine buste 1631 - 1808

Rembrandt van Rijn made this small etching of his mother sometime in the 17th century. It's a sensitive portrayal of an elderly woman, her hand resting gently on her chest. But this is more than just a portrait, it tells us a lot about the culture of the Dutch Golden Age. The Netherlands was a burgeoning mercantile power, and art was no longer just for the church or aristocracy. Artists like Rembrandt were producing art for a growing middle class. Etchings like this one were relatively affordable, allowing a wider audience to own and appreciate art. Rembrandt made several portraits of his mother, and in doing so, he elevated her to the status of art object, blurring the lines between the personal and the public. Art historians often look to letters, inventories, and other archival documents to better understand these works and explore the relationship between art, the artist, and society.