Bearded man with short wavy hair: bust

Bearded man with short wavy hair: bust is a masterful example of early Dutch Golden Age printmaking, executed by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1631. This classification of the work as a print indicates that the artist employed techniques such as etching or drypoint on paper, media which allowed him to experiment rapidly with dramatic lighting and expressive facial features. The bust features an anonymous, bearded figure, whose short, wavy hair frames a countenance defined by intense, focused study.

Dating from a pivotal period when Rijn was solidifying his reputation in Amsterdam, the piece likely serves as a tronie, a character study intended not as a formal portrait but as an exploration of human emotion and texture. The artist uses dense cross-hatching to build deep shadow, dramatically contrasting the illuminated face. This strong chiaroscuro effect emphasizes the subject’s contemplative mood and highlights the dynamic rendering of the man’s beard and hair, hallmarks of Rijn's graphic style during the 1630s.

This significant seventeenth-century work is preserved within the distinguished collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, contributing to the institution's exceptional holdings of Rijn's prints and drawings. The piece demonstrates the subtle, yet powerful, narrative potential of graphic art. As a historical document of the era and an example of the artist’s prolific output, this image has subsequently become widely accessible through various collections now in the public domain.