Four Men Standing, Wearing Hats c. 1650

This drawing of Four Men Standing, Wearing Hats was made by Rembrandt van Rijn using graphite on paper. The graphic qualities of graphite—the way it leaves a metallic sheen on the page, its capacity for both smudged softness and crisp line work—allowed Rembrandt to capture the essence of these figures with remarkable efficiency. You can see the quickness of the hand in the hatching and cross-hatching that defines their forms, imbuing them with volume and presence. It’s important to remember that paper itself was a valuable commodity in the 17th century. The choice to use it for a sketch like this signals the importance of drawing to Rembrandt’s practice, as a space for experimentation and observation. This was where he could rapidly capture his ideas, without committing to the labour-intensive process of painting. This piece demonstrates how even a seemingly simple drawing carries the weight of its materials and the social context of its creation, challenging us to look beyond the image and consider the conditions that made it possible.