Medea, or the Marriage of Jason and Creusa

Medea, or the Marriage of Jason and Creusa is a celebrated print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1648. This work, executed primarily through etching with meticulous touches of drypoint, demonstrates the artist’s nuanced technical skill in graphic media during the height of the Dutch Golden Age (1601 to 1650). Rijn frequently experimented with the printing process, utilizing different papers and varying amounts of burr achieved through the drypoint needle to alter the emotional weight of his scenes. In this impression, the artist chose absorbent japan paper, which was key to achieving rich, velvety blacks and soft gradients in the shading, enhancing the dramatic atmosphere characteristic of the period's demanding market for high-quality prints.

The subject is drawn from classical mythology, focusing on the tragic figure of Medea. The narrative climax depicts Medea standing enraged at the sight of her former husband, Jason, celebrating his new union with Creusa, the daughter of King Creon of Corinth. Rijn captures the tension of the story, placing Medea at the center, isolated yet powerful, reacting to the joyous marriage procession taking place outside her window or balcony. The composition uses deep shadows and dramatic lighting to emphasize Medea’s internal turmoil and foreshadow her coming acts of vengeance against Jason and his new family. The work is not simply a mythological illustration but a profound psychological study, typical of the mature style Rijn developed in the 1640s, prioritizing human emotion and internal conflict over classical idealism.

This piece stands as one of Rijn’s most significant mythological representations in the printmaking genre. Like many of the master's graphic works, this image has subsequently entered the public domain, allowing for its wide study and appreciation globally. The superb condition and quality of this impression contribute to its importance within the National Gallery of Art collection, where it serves as a key example of seventeenth-century Dutch draftsmanship and narrative etching.