"Naakte vrouw liggend tegen een kussen" by Rembrandt van Rijn, dating from 1661-1662, is a significant drawing created during the artist's late period in the Netherlands. This intimate study utilizes deck paint (opaque watercolor) on paper, demonstrating Rijn's experimental approach to drawing and mixed media even in his final years.
The subject, a nude woman resting against a pillow, is rendered with a characteristic economy of line combined with the subtle addition of deckverf (body color). Rijn employed this specific technique to achieve textural depth and highlight certain areas, particularly the softness of the cushion and the planes of the figure’s body. Unlike the polished precision often demanded by academic standards, this piece emphasizes expressive immediacy, focusing on captured light, shadow, and natural form rather than conventional classical ideals of beauty.
Executed shortly before his death, the drawing reflects the profound psychological realism that defined Rijn's final decade. As a master of the Dutch Golden Age, his relentless focus on human vulnerability and naturalism set him apart from his contemporaries. This important work is part of the extensive collection held by the Rijksmuseum. Because of the age and enduring artistic value of works from this period, high-quality digital prints derived from this drawing are now frequently available through public domain resources, allowing broader access to Rijn's remarkable draughtsmanship.
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