Gezicht op de herberg Huis Te Vraag aan de Sloterweg

Gezicht op de herberg Huis Te Vraag aan de Sloterweg by Rembrandt van Rijn is a masterful landscape print dating from 1652. Created during the artist’s mature period, this work demonstrates Rijn’s innovative approach to graphic arts, utilizing the combination of etching and drypoint to achieve fine textural and tonal effects. For this particular impression, the artist employed Japanese paper, a premium, specialized substrate that absorbed the ink uniquely, resulting in a rich, velvety black tone distinct from impressions pulled on standard European paper.

The subject matter captures a specific, recognizable landmark outside the city walls of Amsterdam: the inn known as the Huis Te Vraag situated along the Sloterweg. These topographical representations were highly valued during the Dutch Golden Age as they documented the rapidly expanding infrastructure and recognizable community hubs. Rijn approaches the scene with observational realism, focusing on the rustic structure of the building and the immediate atmosphere of the road and surrounding countryside.

The print serves as an important record of 17th-century Dutch life, capturing the balance between the bustling urban center and its quiet, functional outskirts. Rijn’s command of the medium is evident in the precise draughtsmanship and the atmospheric use of line to convey light and shadow. This particular view of Gezicht op de herberg Huis Te Vraag aan de Sloterweg resides in the distinguished collection of the Rijksmuseum, forming part of its extensive collection of Dutch prints. High-resolution images of this work are frequently shared in the public domain, allowing global appreciation of Rijn’s technical prowess in landscape printmaking.