Bald Old Man with a Short Beard in Profile

The print Bald Old Man with a Short Beard in Profile was created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1635. This intimate and intensely observed depiction is a masterwork of etching, a medium Rijn extensively developed and utilized throughout his career. Produced during the height of the Dutch Golden Age, specifically within the period of 1601 to 1650, this piece exemplifies the artist's dedication to detailed observation and innovative printmaking techniques.

The subject is rendered in strict profile, focusing the viewer’s attention on the texture of the short beard and the deeply lined, aged features of the man. Rijn masterfully employs the etching needle to create profound depth and volume through careful cross-hatching and varied line weight. The subtle variations in tone, achieved solely through line work, distinguish the highlights of the forehead from the deep shadows enveloping the neck and the background, demonstrating the artist’s characteristic dramatic use of light.

Unlike his formal commissioned portraits, this type of character study allowed Rijn to explore human emotion and psychological depth. While possibly drawn from a studio model, works such as this are often classified as tronies—studies of heads or faces designed not as formal portraits, but as exercises in expression and costume. Such pieces were crucial for the artist, allowing him to perfect the skills necessary to render complex figures in his large-scale narrative works.

The etching remains a key example of Rijn’s output during the mid-1630s, a highly productive period following his move to Amsterdam. As a fundamental piece representing 17th-century Dutch art, this particular impression is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of its age and the institution's commitment to accessibility, high-quality images of this powerful print are frequently made available in the public domain for scholarly research and appreciation.