Rembrandt Portrait Etchings

On display at the Norton Simon Museum is a large selection of portrait etchings by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669). Among the superlative impressions are a group of his self portraits, and his well-known Protrait of Clement de Jonghe, The Printseller.

Rembrandt is universally acknowledged as one of the supreme masters of etching. His virtuosity touched upon all subjects, but his extraordinary skill is especially notable in his studies of the human face.

This selection of portraits indicated the range of Rembrandt's etching style and the variety of his approach to the model. Whether rapid, informal sketches, or elaborate, highly finished studies, they all reveal Rembrandt's acute observation of physiognomy and character. The fine group of self-portraits, in particular, shows the artist's penetrating appraisal of his own appearance and personality at various points in his long career.