Bald Man with Open Mouth, Looking Down

Bald Man with Open Mouth, Looking Down, created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1630, exemplifies the early mastery the artist achieved in the medium of printmaking. Classified as a print, this small-scale work captures an intense, spontaneous moment of expression typical of the studies Rijn produced during the early Dutch Golden Age.

The work was executed using a combination of etching and burin. Etching allowed Rijn to achieve a sense of immediacy and rough spontaneity in the lines defining the subject's features, while the burin provided deeper, controlled strokes that add textural detail to the bald head and define the heavy shadows surrounding the face. This technical complexity allows the viewer to focus intently on the man’s highly charged expression: his mouth is agape and his gaze is directed steeply downward, suggesting astonishment, despair, or a sudden, loud utterance.

During the 1630s, Rijn was deeply engaged in exploring human physiognomy, often producing character studies known as tronies rather than formal portraits. These expressive heads were essential exercises in capturing psychological depth, forming a crucial foundation for the dramatic narratives Rijn later depicted in his larger oil paintings. The high degree of emotional realism found in this piece was highly influential during the period spanning 1601 to 1650.

This print resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The skilled manipulation of light and shadow, characteristic of Baroque artistic techniques, draws the viewer's focus immediately to the emotional state of the subject. As a pivotal example of Dutch graphic arts, this image, now frequently available in the public domain, continues to be studied by artists and historians examining Rijn’s pioneering approach to human emotion.