Man met baard en bontmuts 1625 - 1710

This is an etching by Rembrandt van Rijn, a work measuring 232 by 187 millimeters, portraying a man with a beard and fur cap. The composition is dominated by the figure's head and shoulders, rendered with a stark contrast between light and shadow, creating a deeply intimate yet detached emotional response. Rembrandt masterfully employs the etching technique to explore the interplay of line and texture. The lines vary in thickness and density to model form and express the tactile qualities of fur and skin. The hatching and cross-hatching create areas of shadow that define the contours of the man's face, beard, and cap, lending a sculptural quality to the two-dimensional surface. In this work, the formal qualities of line and tone serve not merely as descriptive tools, but as vehicles for psychological expression. The intense gaze and furrowed brow, combined with the dramatic chiaroscuro, invite us to ponder the sitter's inner world. The way Rembrandt uses light to reveal and conceal suggests an engagement with ideas around identity, perception and representation. Ultimately, this etching remains a powerful testament to the enduring capacity of art to question fixed meanings.