Old man shading his eyes with his hand

"Old man shading his eyes with his hand," created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1639, is a powerful example of the artist's prolific output as a graphic artist during the Dutch Golden Age. Executed as a print on paper, this work focuses intensely on a single, elderly figure engaged in a natural, unselfconscious action. The subject raises a hand to shield his eyes, a simple gesture that enhances the interplay of light and shadow, defining the contours of his face and the texture of his aged skin. This intimate study in human character is housed in the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

The year 1639 marks a period when Rijn was highly focused on mastering the etching process, using the medium to achieve effects comparable to painting. The delicate, controlled lines capture the psychological depth of the figure while demonstrating the artist’s characteristic attention to detail in clothing and physiognomy. This type of close observation of common people was typical of Rijn’s practice, often blurring the line between a traditional portrait commission and a tronie (a character study).

Rijn’s technical skill allowed him to manipulate the printing plate to control the density of light, utilizing deep shadows to concentrate the viewer’s focus entirely on the man's expression. As one of the most celebrated prints from the 17th century, this depiction of the old man shading his eyes serves as a primary reference point for art historians studying Dutch graphic art. Because the work is part of a public domain collection, high-quality reproductions and digital copies of the print are widely accessible for scholarly and educational purposes globally.