Man in cap bound around his chin

"Man in cap bound around his chin" is a captivating print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1631. Executed on paper, this work demonstrates the young artist's growing mastery of etching, a medium that allowed him to experiment rapidly with light, shadow, and emotional expression. This period, shortly after Rijn moved definitively to Amsterdam, was marked by intense production of small-scale prints that often served as studies in character and physiognomy, emphasizing the artist's developing skill in capturing textural detail and atmospheric shadow.

The subject is depicted in an unusual, highly bound cap, typical of the Dutch Golden Age practice of the tronie, or character study, rather than a formal portrait. Rijn utilized strong contrasts, defining the facial features primarily through shadow and highlights, characteristic of the Baroque style. The dense network of etched lines suggests the heavy texture of the cap and the binding cloth, focusing the viewer’s attention on the intense psychological depth conveyed through the sitter's eyes.

Such expressive prints were highly collectible during the seventeenth century and helped establish Rijn's reputation as a masterful draftsman in both paint and ink. The tightly controlled composition highlights the artist's early experimentation with dramatic illumination, foreshadowing the profound chiaroscuro techniques that would define his later work. This significant print, dated 1631, is preserved in the extensive collection of the Rijksmuseum, contributing to the wealth of high-quality public domain art available for study and appreciation.