Girl with a basket

"Girl with a basket" is a significant print created by Rembrandt van Rijn, dated 1642. This work, executed on paper, exemplifies the profound technical mastery that Rijn brought to the art of printmaking during the height of the Dutch Golden Age. While the specific technique is classified broadly as a print, the artist was renowned for his innovative approach to etching and drypoint, often combining methods to achieve rich tonal variations and detailed textures rarely seen in the 17th century. The subtlety of line and the delicate rendering of form demonstrate why Rijn’s output in this medium remains highly influential today.

Dated 1642, the same pivotal year the artist completed his monumental painting The Night Watch, this piece provides valuable insight into Rijn’s sustained focus on intimate figure studies alongside his major public commissions. The modest subject matter, a girl handling a basket, reflects the widespread contemporary interest in genre scenes and the meticulous observation of everyday life that characterized Dutch art of the period. The accessibility of prints meant that many of Rijn’s compositions were widely circulated across Europe, helping to solidify his reputation as an international master. This particular impression of Girl with a basket is held in the prestigious collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it forms part of one of the world's most comprehensive archives of Dutch masters. Works like this are frequently released into the public domain, allowing broader academic access and study of Rijn's prolific print catalogue.