The Portrait of a Boy, in Profile is an intimate etching created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1641. This delicate work exemplifies the Dutch Master's profound skill not only with oil paint but also in the demanding field of graphic arts. Classified specifically as a print, the piece was executed as an etching, and this impression represents the second of two known states of the copper plate, indicating the meticulous rework and refinement Rembrandt often applied to his graphic output during his mature period.
The subject is rendered in a sharp profile view, focusing intently on the youthful contours and expression of the boy’s face. Rembrandt utilized the etcher's needle to create varying line weight and cross-hatching, effectively managing light and shadow to lend the figure three-dimensionality. Unlike the formal commissions often produced during the Dutch Golden Age, this small-scale study focuses on character, capturing an ephemeral moment of concentration or contemplation. This dedication to psychological depth, even in minor subjects, is a hallmark of Rembrandt’s approach to portraiture.
Dating from a prolific time in Rembrandt’s career, this portrait demonstrates his genius for capturing human emotion within the constraints of printmaking. This important impression is housed within the comprehensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) in New York. As historical works like this frequently enter the public domain, detailed images and information regarding these significant prints continue to be studied globally, cementing Rembrandt's legacy as a paramount figure in European art history.
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