Lieven Willemsz. van Coppenol, writing master: the larger plate

Lieven Willemsz. van Coppenol, writing master: the larger plate by Rembrandt van Rijn, created in 1658, is widely considered one of the greatest achievements of the artist’s mature printmaking career. Executed in a demanding combination of etching, drypoint, and possibly burin, the composition utilizes the rich materiality of the paper medium to achieve deep, velvety black tones and exceptional textural detail. This technique allowed Rijn to master the contrast between the intensely lit foreground figure and the surrounding gloom, creating a psychological intensity central to his late style.

The subject is Lieven Willemsz. van Coppenol (c. 1598-1667), a celebrated calligrapher and teacher in Amsterdam whose impressive penmanship was highly prized. Rembrandt had depicted Coppenol on several occasions, but the grandeur and scale of this "larger plate" suggest a monumental, commissioned portrait rather than a simple study. Rijn presents the writing master in an elevated posture, his face illuminated by a dramatic cascade of light as he prepares to write or contemplates the finished page held in his hand. The dramatic focus highlights the dignity and intellectual focus inherent in Coppenol’s specialized craft.

This significant impression is housed within the renowned collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it serves as a critical example of 17th-century Dutch portraiture. As with many works created by this Dutch master, such prints provided Rijn with a means of distributing his art beyond wealthy patrons. Today, the enduring quality of these remarkable prints is recognized globally, and high-resolution images of such historical artworks are frequently placed in the public domain by institutions, ensuring broad accessibility for scholarship and appreciation.