Man, tekenend naar een gipsmodel

Man, tekenend naar een gipsmodel is a study by the renowned Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn, dating from approximately 1639-1643. Executed on paper, the work is cataloged not merely as a drawing but falls under the classification "Book" within the Rijksmuseum collection. This designation suggests the piece may have been bound in an instructional volume or served as a preparatory study for a larger, systematic collection of drawings used in the artist’s prolific workshop.

The drawing captures an intimate moment of artistic training: a man diligently practicing his draughtsmanship by drawing from a plaster cast. Copying classical sculpture was a standard pedagogical method during the Dutch Golden Age, allowing students to master foundational anatomy, proportion, and volume before attempting the greater challenges posed by live models. This piece reflects the rigorous curriculum Rijn maintained while running his successful studio in Amsterdam during the 1640s.

The technique employed on paper, characteristic of Rijn’s drafting style during this period, emphasizes keen observation and a careful handling of line to suggest form and shadow. The piece reflects the realist and detailed tendencies prevalent in 17th-century Dutch art. This original artifact, detailing the artistic education framework of the era, is conserved in the Rijksmuseum’s extensive collection of Dutch masters. Today, while the original study is institutionally held, reproductions and high-quality prints of the master’s work often enter the public domain, ensuring Rijn’s methods and visual records remain widely accessible to contemporary students of art history.