Jan Uytenbogaert (The Gold Weigher)

Jan Uytenbogaert (The Gold Weigher) is a masterful print executed by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1639, utilizing the complex media of etching and drypoint. This renowned portrait depicts the respected Remonstrant preacher Jan Uytenbogaert, though the title emphasizes his role as an experienced financial administrator, particularly regarding the liquidation of assets for persecuted congregations. Seated at a substantial table cluttered with ledgers and reference books, the figure is intensely focused on his task.

Rembrandt employed delicate line work and rich burr characteristic of the drypoint technique to define the texture of the cloth and the intimate atmosphere of the interior. The contrast between the brightly lit figure and the shadowed background enhances the composition's intensity. The focus is intently on the man's hands as he handles a precise set of small scales, carefully weighing coinage or bullion. This meticulous action suggests prevailing themes of scrutiny and financial prudence crucial to the mercantile culture of the Dutch Golden Age. The detailed rendering of the heavy wooden table and the specific legal and financial books scattered around him grounds the scene in tangible reality.

As one of the finest prints produced by the Dutch master during his mature period, the subtlety of the shadows created by the etching process exemplifies Rembrandt’s sophisticated handling of light and character study. While Uytenbogaert was known primarily as a controversial theologian, Rembrandt chose to capture him in this contemplative, managerial moment. This exceptional impression of the work currently resides in the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.