Saskia in Bed c. 1635
rembrandtvanrijn
amateur sketch
toned paper
light pencil work
pencil sketch
incomplete sketchy
ink drawing experimentation
sketchbook drawing
pencil work
watercolour illustration
fantasy sketch
"Saskia in Bed," a red chalk drawing by Rembrandt van Rijn from around 1635, captures his wife Saskia in a relaxed pose. This intimate portrait, now housed at the Rijksmuseum, showcases Rembrandt's early mastery of light and shadow, creating depth and volume in the figure. Saskia, the artist's muse and first wife, was often depicted in his works, reflecting their loving relationship. The drawing's small size emphasizes its personal nature, a tender glimpse into the couple's life.
Comments
This quick scribble almost certainly shows Rembrandt’s wife, Saskia, whom he often drew during her confinements and illnesses. A very similar drawing, now in London, depicts the same woman holding a baby. Because Rembrandt favoured red chalk in the mid-1630s, that baby is most likely Rembrandt and Saskia’s firstborn son, Rumbartus, who was baptized on 15 December 1635 and died two months later.
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