Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol: the Larger Plate

Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol: the Larger Plate is a masterful print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1658. This work stands as a key example of Dutch artistry during the latter half of the Golden Age (1651 to 1700). Rijn utilized a complex and demanding combination of etching, drypoint, and burin to achieve remarkable richness and subtlety in depicting his subject. The collaboration of these three distinct printmaking techniques allowed the artist to create deep, velvety shadows and intensely expressive highlights, demonstrating his dedication to textural detail and atmosphere, particularly in his later output of prints.

The subject of this portrait is Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol, an Amsterdam calligrapher and teacher who was acquainted with Rijn. This specific version is designated the "Larger Plate" because Rijn had produced an earlier, smaller study of Coppenol in 1653. The expanded scale allowed Rijn to elaborate significantly on the background details and capture the sitter's quiet intensity. Coppenol is shown seated at a desk, contemplating a piece of writing he holds in his hands, with a quill nearby. The deep blacks created by the drypoint burr surrounding the sitter contrast sharply with the illuminated face and hands, emphasizing Coppenol's professional identity and focus. Rijn’s skill in manipulating light and shadow transforms the common portrait print into an insightful psychological study characteristic of his mature work.

As a highly sought-after example of 17th-century Dutch prints, this piece showcases the zenith of Rijn’s graphic output. The subtle variations achievable through the combination of etching and drypoint made such prints highly valued collector items. This important example of Rijn’s printmaking mastery currently resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a crucial reference for the study of Baroque graphic arts. Like many masterworks of this period, copies of this print are often available in the public domain for non-commercial scholarly research and appreciation.