Clement de Jonghe, Printseller

Clement de Jonghe, Printseller is a celebrated 1651 print by Rembrandt van Rijn, depicting the namesake publisher and art dealer. Created during the height of the Dutch Golden Age in the Netherlands, this portrait offers significant insight into the thriving market for art and specifically for fine prints in 17th-century Amsterdam. The subject, Clement de Jonghe, was a close contemporary and key distributor of Rijn's own vast graphic output.

This piece is classified as a print, demonstrating Rijn's sophisticated command of intaglio techniques. The work utilizes a combination of etching, drypoint, and engraving, allowing the artist to achieve remarkable textural richness and tonal depth. Rijn skillfully employs drypoint to create a rich, velvety burr in the shadows, contrasting this with the precise lines achieved through etching to define the sitter’s features and costume. The density of line work surrounding the figure suggests the contemplative, dark interiors typical of Dutch portraiture from this period.

The careful execution highlights the prestige of printmaking as an independent art form during Rijn's lifetime. Works such as this solidified Rijn’s reputation as a printmaker unparalleled in his era, whose graphic innovations remain highly influential. This particular impression of Clement de Jonghe, Printseller is held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, contributing significantly to their holdings of important European graphic works. As with many important 17th-century artworks, high-resolution images of this piece are often made available by institutions through public domain initiatives for scholarly and appreciative use.