Peter and John Healing the Cripple at the Gate of the Temple

Peter and John Healing the Cripple at the Gate of the Temple by Rembrandt van Rijn, created in 1659, is a powerful example of the Dutch master’s late output in the realm of prints. This composition utilizes the combined media of etching and drypoint, techniques that allowed Rijn to achieve a remarkable range of atmospheric effects and tonal variation. The integration of drypoint, characterized by its soft, burr-laden lines, is particularly evident in the depiction of shadow, enhancing the dramatic focus of the central narrative. As a key figure of the Netherlands' Golden Age, Rijn often approached biblical scenes with a profound focus on the human experience, rendering the miraculous not through idealized grandeur but through emotional intensity.

The subject illustrates the moment described in the Book of Acts (3:1-10) when the apostles encounter a man crippled from birth begging at the entrance of the Temple. Rijn captures the climactic moment immediately preceding the miracle, drawing the viewer’s eye toward the exchange between Peter and the supplicant. Instead of crowding the scene, Rijn emphasizes the three central figures, utilizing highly localized light to suggest divine presence and transformation, a characteristic element of his mature style. This technical finesse, achieved entirely through line and acid, solidifies Rijn’s status as one of history's foremost printmakers. This finely detailed work is classified as a print within the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it serves as an important reference for the study of 17th-century Baroque draftsmanship.