Bust of a Man Wearing a High Cap, Three-Quarters Right (The Artist's Father?)

Bust of a Man Wearing a High Cap, Three-Quarters Right (The Artist's Father?) by Rembrandt van Rijn is a critical early work from the Dutch master’s graphic arts output, executed around 1630. This striking piece is classified as a print, created using the demanding intaglio process of etching on laid paper. During the period of 1601 to 1650, printmaking was a vital component of the vibrant Dutch art market, and this technical skill allowed Rijn to experiment widely with texture and mood.

The work is an intimate character study, commonly identified by art historians as a possible portrait of the artist’s father, Harmen Gerritsz van Rijn. The subject, a mature man, faces the viewer in a three-quarters right pose, his features partly obscured by the distinctive shadow cast by his high cap. Rijn’s application of the etching needle is subtle yet forceful, building volume and depth through dense cross-hatching and varied line weight. This intense focus on facial expression and dramatic lighting positions the piece stylistically alongside other tronies—studies of heads intended less as formal portraits and more as explorations of human expression and costume.

Rijn’s early experiments in etching, evidenced in the detail and handling of Bust of a Man Wearing a High Cap, Three-Quarters Right (The Artist's Father?), demonstrate his rapid development as a graphic artist before his transition to integrating drypoint techniques. The small scale of the piece maximized its potential for widespread distribution, cementing the artist’s reputation throughout the Low Countries. Today, the enduring quality of these prints secures their place in major collections, including this impression held by the National Gallery of Art. Because of its historical significance and institutional custodianship, the image is often made available through public domain resources, ensuring continued study of this monumental figure in European art history.