Jan Asselijn

The etched portrait Jan Asselijn was created in 1647 by the influential Dutch master, Rembrandt van Rijn. Classified specifically as a print, this powerful work showcases Rijn’s celebrated skill in intaglio techniques, utilizing a sophisticated combination of etching, drypoint, and burin on fine japan paper. This mixed approach allowed the artist to achieve remarkable texture and tonal variation, particularly in the deep, rich blacks characteristic of drypoint burr and the sharply defined lines of the burin. Dating to the height of the Dutch Golden Age, the piece exemplifies the high standard of printmaking achieved during the mid-17th century.

Rijn was renowned not only for his oil paintings but also for his extensive output of high-quality prints, a medium he treated with the aesthetic seriousness usually reserved for painting. The sitter, likely the fellow landscape painter Jan Asselijn, is rendered with immediacy and depth, lending the image a psychological intensity uncommon in contemporary portrait engravings. Unlike many of his contemporaries who relied heavily on professional printmakers, Rijn executed nearly all of his plates personally, resulting in a singular, cohesive vision. This careful technical mastery solidified his reputation as one of the preeminent draftsmen working within the 1601 to 1650 period.

The choice of japan paper, known for its smooth surface and ability to yield extremely fine, detailed impressions, underscores the exceptional quality Rijn sought for his key works. Through the dramatic contrasts achieved by the varied etched and drypoint lines, the artist captures a nuanced, intimate psychological study. This impression of Jan Asselijn is held in the prestigious collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., where it contributes significantly to the understanding of Dutch printmaking history. As a canonical work from this era, fine quality reproductions of the masterwork are often made available through public domain initiatives.