NARRATOR:
A man of great artistic curiosity, Rembrandt turned to etching early on. He made this study of a student by candlelight when he was in his mid-30s, around 1642—shortly after the death of his beloved wife, Saskia. Its somber mood differs sharply from the drama and exuberance of his earlier works. The density of lines plunges the solitary figure into a sea of darkness, illuminated only by the flame of a single candle.
Rembrandt liked to rework his plates after the first printing, adding detail or rearranging motifs. He experimented with different inks and papers, including paper from Japan which had recently arrived in Holland. Contemporaries even accused him of making changes in order to sell more prints to collectors, who prided themselves in owning every version, or state, of an image.
This print is a rare example of a Rembrandt etching in its first unaltered state. Considering its execution near flawless, Rembrandt never touched the plate again.
To hear about Rembrandt’s etching technique, press 4501.
Student at a Table by Candlelight
c. 1642
Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606-1669)
Not on View
Details
- Artist Name: Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606-1669)
- Title: Student at a Table by Candlelight
- Date: c. 1642
- Medium: Etching
- Edition: Only state
- Dimensions: plate: 5-3/4 x 5-1/4 in. (14.6 x 13.3 cm); sheet: 5-3/4 x 5-1/4 in. (14.6 x 13.3 cm)
- Credit Line: Norton Simon Art Foundation
- Accession Number: M.1977.32.060.G
- Copyright: © Norton Simon Art Foundation
Object Information
- Campbell, Sara, Collector Without Walls: Norton Simon and His Hunt for the Best,2010, cat. 1452 p. 408
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