Bust of an Old Bearded Man, Looking Down, Three Quarters Right

Bust of an Old Bearded Man, Looking Down, Three Quarters Right is a powerful etching created in 1631 by the master Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606-1669). This work stands as an exceptional early example of the artist's intense focus on character and emotional expression. Executed in the Netherlands during the height of the Dutch Golden Age, it belongs to the crucial period when Rembrandt established himself as a prominent portraitist and graphic artist.

The piece, classified simply as a print, showcases Rembrandt's technical brilliance with the etching medium. Working on paper, the artist utilized fine, controlled lines and complex cross-hatching to create deep shadows and nuanced texture, particularly visible in the subject's dense beard and heavy garments. The dramatic contrast of light and shadow, characteristic of the 1606-1669 period, emphasizes the downward gaze and deeply furrowed brow, transforming the study into a profound exploration of age and introspection.

Like many of Rembrandt’s contemporaneous studies of elderly figures, this portrait bust functions as a tronie—a character study intended to evoke a universal mood or type rather than depict a specific commissioned sitter. This practice allowed the artist freedom to experiment with expression and lighting effects. The deeply expressive quality of this etching demonstrates the artist's capacity to imbue prints with significant psychological weight. Today, this important example of Dutch graphic arts is preserved in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Its renown ensures that high-quality reproductions are widely accessible through public domain resources, allowing scholars and enthusiasts to study Rembrandt's profound technical achievements.