Portrait of a Man in an Armchair, from Collection d'imitations de Dessins d'après les Principaux Maîtres Hollandais et Flamands

The Portrait of a Man in an Armchair, from Collection d'imitations de Dessins d'après les Principaux Maîtres Hollandais et Flamands is an 1826 print executed by Christian Josi (Dutch, died 1828), based upon an original composition by the great Dutch master, Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669). This work exemplifies the 19th-century scholarly fascination with, and meticulous documentation of, the Golden Age of the Netherlands.

Josi rendered this image using the specialized technique of soft ground etching, created from two separate plates and augmented with the subtle textural effects of the roulette. This intricate process allowed Josi to emulate the appearance of a delicate, nuanced drawing, faithfully translating the character study of the seated man into a reproducible print format.

This particular piece belongs to Josi's ambitious project, the Collection d'imitations de Dessins, which aimed to document and disseminate the graphic legacy of the principal Dutch and Flemish painters and draftsmen. By reproducing these important compositions, Josi helped preserve and propagate the signature artistic qualities of masters like Rembrandt for future generations of scholars and artists. The portrait captures the subject with the deep psychological insight and dramatic manipulation of shadow associated with the 17th-century style. This important classification of prints, demonstrating both technical mastery and historical reverence, is housed in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago and is often shared globally through public domain resources.