Boy Walking with a Stick c. 1635 - 1640

This is Rembrandt van Rijn’s ‘Boy Walking with a Stick’, an ink drawing on paper. The drawing presents a figure in motion, his form delineated with stark, assured lines against the blank page. The composition is seemingly simple, yet the dynamism achieved through the boy's posture and the extended stick conveys a sense of forward movement. Rembrandt’s application of ink varies in thickness, creating depth and shadow. The stick, nearly bisecting the image, serves as a structural element that challenges the viewer's perspective. Is it merely a prop, or does it signify something more? The boy's figure, though roughly sketched, possesses a distinct character. Rembrandt was concerned with the essence of form and the interplay between line and space. This drawing then becomes more than just a study of a boy; it becomes a meditation on the act of seeing, the simplicity of form, and the power of suggestion.