The Hurdy-gurdy Player c. 1631
rembrandtvanrijn
amateur sketch
toned paper
light pencil work
pencil sketch
incomplete sketchy
etching
ink drawing experimentation
pen-ink sketch
sketchbook drawing
sketchbook art
Rembrandt van Rijn's etching *The Hurdy-gurdy Player* (c. 1631) depicts a street musician, the subject's hunched posture and worn clothing emphasizing his low social status. The work's expressive lines and light shading create a sense of depth and realism, typical of Rembrandt's early etchings. The artist's interest in capturing the lives of ordinary people is evident in this poignant portrayal of a musician, a popular subject in Dutch art of the 17th century.
Comments
Initially, Rembrandt was fascinated above all by pathetic wretches compelled to beg for alms. Later, he also developed an interest in other colourful city folk, which he usually depicted in the same minuscule format. In these six etchings, he portrayed a quack in outmoded clothing, two Polish soldiers, two street musicians (an organ grinder and a fiddler) and a skater.
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