Faust

Faust, created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1652, is a remarkable example of the artist’s virtuosity in graphic media. Classified specifically as a print, the work utilizes the complex combined processes of etching, drypoint, and engraving. This blend of techniques, meticulously applied to rough beige paper, allows for extraordinary textural variations, from the deep, rich burr of the drypoint to the fine, delicate lines of the etching, contributing to the work's profound tonal contrasts.

The piece captures the famed scholar Dr. Faustus within the claustrophobic confines of his study, reflecting his deep involvement in occult knowledge and spiritual contemplation. Rijn renders the scholar staring up, interrupted by an ethereal, circular inscription of light and cryptic text that seems to burst into the room from a darkened window. This masterful deployment of shadow and intense illumination, known as chiaroscuro, dramatically emphasizes the psychological and moral dilemma facing the subject, a trope that held significant resonance within the philosophical circles of the Dutch Golden Age.

As a print produced in the 1651 to 1700 period, the subject matter moves beyond conventional portraiture or religious narrative to explore intellectual and moral themes characteristic of the later career of the artist. Rijn’s skillful execution ensured that impressions of Faust were highly sought after, establishing the work as a defining example of 17th-century European graphic art. This highly valued impression currently resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, forming an integral part of its holdings of Dutch master prints.