Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol with his Grandson

Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol with his Grandson is a highly detailed print created by Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) between 1653 and 1663. This remarkable work exemplifies the Dutch master’s late mastery of the graphic arts, utilizing a complex and experimental blend of etching and drypoint. The artist further augmented the plate by applying a mezzotint rocker to achieve rich, velvety dark passages, deepening the atmosphere surrounding the figures. This particular impression represents the sixth of seven known states, revealing Rembrandt's continuous refinement of tone and texture across multiple reworkings of the composition.

The subject, Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol, was a celebrated Amsterdam writing master whose skill Rembrandt greatly admired and depicted multiple times. This intimate double portrait captures the elderly man engrossed in his meticulous craft. Rembrandt frames the central figure, one of the few prints focusing intensely on the act of writing, alongside a young boy, presumably his grandson, who observes the proceedings. The composition contrasts the solemn intensity of the professional man with the innocence of the child, integrating the subjects of Men and Boys naturally while emphasizing the transfer of skill and knowledge essential to 17th-century Dutch society.

This highly sought-after print resides in the extensive collection of prints at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Works like this, created by Rembrandt in the last decade of his life, pushed the technical boundaries of etching and drypoint. Today, this masterwork remains a key reference for understanding the profound psychological depth the artist could achieve in his printed portraits.