Portrait of a Man (Le Doreur)

The print Portrait of a Man (Le Doreur), created in 1885, is a collaborative attribution linking the celebrated Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn with the esteemed French etcher Léopold Flameng. This work is an etching executed by Flameng, intended as a faithful reproduction of an original painting or drawing by Rijn. Flameng was highly regarded in Paris during the late 19th century for his technical precision in translating complex brushwork and deep tonality into the linear medium of printmaking.

Produced during the French period spanning 1876 to 1900, this piece exemplifies a major trend within academic art: the detailed study and broad dissemination of canonical European masterworks. Flameng’s etching technique involves carefully incising the design onto a copper plate, allowing for the precise rendering of form and texture necessary to mimic Rijn's characteristic dramatic lighting and psychological depth. As a professional printmaker working in the French tradition, Flameng made the artistry of the Dutch Golden Age accessible to a wider contemporary audience through reproducible prints.

The subject, known traditionally as Le Doreur (The Gilder), is rendered with the intimate, psychological realism characteristic of Rijn’s best portraits. The sitter is typically depicted in three-quarter profile, employing deep chiaroscuro to emphasize the textures of the fabric and the man’s contemplative expression. This print serves as a significant example of 19th-century reproductive efforts, showcasing the enduring influence of the Dutch Baroque on later European printmaking. This particular piece resides today in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its age and historical classification, the image is often found among public domain art records, continuing its original role of artistic distribution into the digital age.