Hendrickje Stoffels (1626–1663) by Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) is an intimate oil on canvas painting executed between 1654 and 1656. This poignant portrait captures the artist's common-law wife and companion during a defining and challenging period of his career in the Dutch Golden Age.
The painting exemplifies Rembrandt's mastery of psychological depth and his expressive technique during his mature period. The artist utilized a rich, restricted palette of browns and deep reds, applying paint with textured brushstrokes and a heavy impasto in areas, particularly to highlight the sitter’s delicate features and flowing hair. Hendrickje is depicted directly, gazing outward with an expression of quiet dignity and resignation, perhaps reflecting the social challenges she faced living openly with the master after the death of his first wife, Saskia.
This work stands as one of the most significant depictions of women in Rembrandt's oeuvre. It belongs to a series of profoundly personal portraits he created of his inner circle, where he prioritized emotional truth over the formal expectations of contemporary portraiture. The subtle lighting focuses intensely on her face and hands, allowing the figure to emerge dramatically from the darkened background.
The original artwork is a celebrated piece within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Due to its historical importance, the work is widely studied, and high-quality prints derived from public domain imagery of this quintessential Rembrandt portrait are popular among art enthusiasts globally.
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