Young Man, Half-length c. 17th century

Curator: Looking at this etching, it feels like glimpsing a secret. There's something so intimate in the way the artist captured this young man. Editor: Indeed. This piece, "Young Man, Half-length," is attributed to the School of Rembrandt van Rijn and resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. The flurry of lines feels almost claustrophobic, doesn't it? Curator: Almost like he's caught in a web of his own thoughts, or perhaps the artist's. It's wonderfully unnerving; what do you suppose it says about the society and culture that formed Rembrandt? Editor: Well, Rembrandt's influence permeated his studio and beyond. His approach democratized portraiture and challenged conventions of representation; the way this work focuses on a commoner seems revolutionary, even to this day. Curator: Absolutely, it still speaks so profoundly and personally to the viewer. I love how the light seems to struggle against the darkness, it’s a powerful vision and I'm so grateful for this glimpse into the artistic worlds of yesterday.