Medea: or the marriage of Jason and Creusa

"Medea: or the marriage of Jason and Creusa" is a significant print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1648. Executed using the complex intaglio techniques of etching and drypoint, the work showcases the artist’s mature mastery of graphic arts during the height of the Dutch Golden Age. Unlike many of his contemporary works, this impression utilizes delicate Japanese paper, a premium support material often favored by Rijn for its ability to enhance the rich blacks and subtle burr left by the drypoint needle, resulting in exceptional textural depth and tonal variation.

The subject is drawn from classical mythology, focusing on the tragic narrative of Medea. Abandoned by Jason for the princess Creusa, Medea is typically depicted at the moment she prepares her terrible, transformative revenge. Rijn avoids the overtly dramatic scenes often favored by Baroque artists, instead focusing on Medea's intense psychological state. The composition captures the human drama inherent in the mythological tale, utilizing sharp contrasts of light and shadow characteristic of the artist’s late 1640s period.

The powerful execution and technical experimentation evident in this piece confirm Rijn's standing as the preeminent printmaker of his era. As a key example of his graphic output, this impression of Medea: or the marriage of Jason and Creusa is held in the prestigious collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it serves as a critical reference point for the study of 17th-century Dutch prints. Due to the historical importance of the work, high-quality images and prints of this masterpiece are often made available through public domain archives, ensuring its accessibility for scholarship worldwide.