Ephraim Bueno, Jewish Physician

"Ephraim Bueno, Jewish Physician," created by the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn in 1647, is a profound example of 17th-century Baroque portraiture realized through graphic arts. This striking image is technically complex, executed using a combination of etching, engraving, and drypoint. The print represents the second of two known states, a detail that underscores the artist’s characteristic practice of reworking and refining his copper plates over time to achieve maximal expressive effect.

The subject, Ephraim Bueno (c. 1599-1665), was a prominent member of Amsterdam's Portuguese Jewish community. Highly respected as a physician, poet, and playwright, Bueno maintained a central position in the city’s intellectual and social life, and he was one of several Jewish figures that Rembrandt chose to depict during this period. In this portrait of the esteemed physician, Rembrandt focuses intensely on the man's contemplative presence. Bueno is shown seated, leaning forward slightly, the gravity of his expression conveying intellectual authority and professional composure.

Rembrandt’s skillful application of drypoint is evident in the rich, velvety quality of the shadows and the texture of the sitter’s clothing, lending the print a deep contrast that concentrates the viewer's attention on the subject’s face and hands. The masterful handling of light and shadow, combined with the detailed rendering of the face, elevates the portrait beyond mere likeness into a psychological study. This exceptional print is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it serves as a testament to Rembrandt’s enduring genius in the medium of prints, making the image highly accessible to scholars and the general public as a significant piece of public domain art.