Beggar Seated on a Bank by Rembrandt van Rijn

Beggar Seated on a Bank 1630

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rembrandtvanrijn

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toned paper

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light pencil work

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quirky sketch

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pencil sketch

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personal sketchbook

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ink drawing experimentation

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pen-ink sketch

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sketchbook drawing

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watercolour illustration

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sketchbook art

Rembrandt van Rijn's etching "Beggar Seated on a Bank," created in 1630, showcases the Dutch master's masterful use of line and shadow. The composition, a close-up of a seated beggar, emphasizes the subject's worn clothing and weary expression, conveying both poverty and a sense of human dignity. Rembrandt's use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of depth and texture, highlighting the subject's weathered hands and the rough fabric of their clothing. This intimate portrayal of a humble figure reflects Rembrandt's early interest in depicting everyday life with sensitivity and realism.

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Comments

rijksmuseum's Profile Picture
rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

This beggar extends his hand for alms and calls out to us. Quite surprisingly, Rembrandt gave this figure his own face. Whether by doing so he identified with the world’s outcasts is unclear. What is certain is that Rembrandt depicted them often in these early years, and unlike his colleagues he did so without scorn or ridicule.

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