Portrait of a Boy

Portrait of a Boy is a powerful print created in 1641 by the celebrated Dutch master, Rembrandt van Rijn Dutch, 1606-1669. This small but intimate work showcases the artist’s exceptional skill in graphic media, utilizing the delicate, nuanced textures afforded by etching combined with the rich, velvety blacks of drypoint on paper. The subject, an unidentified youth, is rendered with a seriousness and immediacy typical of Rembrandt's portraiture from the period, distinguishing this piece from more generalized studies. The work captures a moment of quiet contemplation, focusing intensely on the boy's facial expression and the subtle play of light and shadow across his features.

Executed during the peak of the Dutch Golden Age, this specific print reflects the widespread demand for accessible and sophisticated artworks in the 17th-century Netherlands. Rembrandt was a prolific and innovative printmaker, treating the copper plate with the same complexity and psychological depth he applied to his oil paintings. His ability to evoke deep emotion and volumetric form using only lines and shadows established him as the preeminent graphic artist of his era. While many of Rembrandt’s most famous etchings portray biblical scenes or self-portraits, the sensitivity demonstrated in this depiction of a young sitter demonstrates his mastery of individualized character study. This significant example of seventeenth-century prints is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it represents a seminal work of European draftsmanship now widely accessible through public domain art initiatives.