Ragged Peasant with His Hands behind Him, Holding a Stick

Ragged Peasant with His Hands behind Him, Holding a Stick by Rembrandt van Rijn Dutch, 1606-1669, is an exceptional early exploration of character study and printmaking technique. Executed between 1625 and 1635, this piece is an etching printed on delicate ivory laid paper. This period represents the genesis of Rembrandt's intensive relationship with the copper plate, where he developed revolutionary approaches to light, shadow, and line-work that would characterize the Golden Age of Dutch prints.

The composition focuses tightly on a single male figure, portrayed wearing patched or ragged clothing indicative of his low social standing. The peasant stands in a simple, direct posture, his hands linked behind his back while firmly grasping a long stick. Rembrandt utilizes the etching needle to render the coarse texture of the worn garments and the man's expressive, weathered face, emphasizing a psychological realism typical of his work during his Leiden years.

As a representative example of 17th-century Netherlandish genre scenes, the print reflects the era's fascination with detailed depictions of common folk and street life in the Netherlands. The early maturity displayed in this work cemented Rembrandt’s reputation as a master draftsman and printmaker. The work currently resides in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a historically significant early print, Ragged Peasant with His Hands behind Him, Holding a Stick is often studied by scholars, and high-quality reproductions of this public domain artwork are widely accessible.