Clement de Jonghe, Printseller

Clement de Jonghe, Printseller by Rembrandt van Rijn, dated 1651, is a masterful example of the artist’s mature printmaking practice. Rijn did not rely on a single method for this portrait; rather, he uniquely combined etching, drypoint, and engraving to achieve highly varied textural effects and deep, rich blacks. This synthesis of techniques allowed Rijn exceptional freedom in depicting texture, contrasting the sitter’s heavy clothing and fur-trimmed hat with the subtle play of light across the face. The delicate burr created by the drypoint needle is particularly noticeable, lending the portrait a sense of immediate intimacy and psychological depth characteristic of Rijn’s best work.

The subject, Clement de Jonghe, was a prominent art dealer and publisher based in Amsterdam during the flourishing Dutch Golden Age. As a successful merchant in the Netherlands, Jonghe was not only a sitter for the artist but also a crucial business contact who played a vital role in the distribution and sale of Rijn’s extensive output of prints. This direct connection provides significant insight into the commercial realities facing major artists of the mid-17th century. Rijn captures Jonghe in a moment of quiet contemplation, reflecting the social stature and commercial gravitas necessary for a leading figure in the Dutch art trade.

This celebrated impression of the portrait of the printseller is held within the distinguished collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. As a seminal work from Rijn’s graphic oeuvre, it demonstrates the artistic pinnacle of 17th-century Northern European etching. Due to the historical age and importance of the original, high-resolution reproductions of works such as Clement de Jonghe, Printseller are often made available through museum initiatives and reside within the growing corpus of art classified as public domain.