Jan Lutma, Goldsmith

Jan Lutma, Goldsmith, created by Rembrandt van Rijn Dutch, 1606-1669, is a masterwork of printmaking from the Golden Age of the Netherlands. Executed in 1656, the piece skillfully utilizes the complex combination of etching and drypoint on paper. This dual medium approach was critical for the dramatic effect achieved by the artist. The etching provided the foundational structure and definition of lines, while the drypoint added depth and atmosphere, particularly visible in the rich, velvety texture created by the burr on the figure’s garments and the surrounding darkness. Rembrandt’s masterful control over these print processes allowed him to achieve nuanced tonal variations rarely seen in the medium, establishing this piece as a high point among his renowned prints.

The subject, Jan Lutma, was a celebrated silversmith and goldsmith in Amsterdam, representing the high status of skilled craftsmen within 17th-century Dutch society. Rather than relying on simple delineation, the 1656 work serves as a profound psychological portrait, capturing the dignity and focused concentration of the artisan. Rembrandt carefully depicts Lutma seated next to the tools of his trade, subtly acknowledging the source of his prestige. Created relatively late in the artist’s career, this print exemplifies the psychological intensity and dramatic lighting characteristic of his mature style. The preservation of this culturally significant artwork ensures that impressions, sometimes available in the public domain for study, continue to be valued globally. This exceptional impression of Jan Lutma, Goldsmith is permanently housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.