Head of a man in a fur cap, crying out

Head of a man in a fur cap, crying out is a seminal print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1629. Dating from the artist's early period in Leiden, this intense study, executed on paper, exemplifies Rijn's emerging mastery of expression and light manipulation in the graphic arts.

This work is an excellent example of a tronie, or character study, a genre popular in 17th-century Dutch art where the focus is solely on capturing a specific mood or physiognomy rather than identifying the sitter. Rijn often used himself or models to capture these extreme emotional states, which served as preparation for larger narrative paintings requiring dramatic psychological intensity. The subject's face is shown contorted in anguish, capturing a raw moment of distress beneath the heavy texture of his fur cap. This striking contrast in texture and expression is achieved through delicate etched lines and deep shadows, demonstrating the dramatic chiaroscuro characteristic of Rijn’s developing style in prints during the Dutch Golden Age.

This expressive piece is part of the extensive collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, which holds one of the world's most significant holdings of Rijn's graphic production. Due to its age and historical importance, high-resolution reproductions of this powerful work are often available in the public domain, allowing students and enthusiasts worldwide to study the subtle lines and psychological depth Rijn achieved in his early prints.