Samuel Manasseh Ben Israel

The influential print Samuel Manasseh Ben Israel was created by the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn in 1636. This essential work exemplifies the artist's profound skill in intaglio methods, specifically the technique of etching combined with surface tone. The careful application of ink to the plate allowed Rijn to achieve complex gradations of shadow, lending the subject a sense of three-dimensional depth and immediacy rarely seen in contemporary prints.

The subject is the noted Jewish scholar, printer, and publisher, Manasseh Ben Israel (1604-1657), who resided in Amsterdam. Rijn was personally acquainted with the scholar, and his interactions with Manasseh Ben Israel provided the artist significant access to and understanding of the local Sephardic community in the Netherlands. The intimacy of the portrait—which captures the subject mid-thought—is characteristic of Rijn’s highly psychological approach to portraiture.

This work is recognized for its expressive lines and subtle handling of light, a hallmark of Rijn’s mature style during the 1630s. The popularity of the portrait during the artist’s lifetime led to the preservation of numerous high-quality prints, solidifying its place in art history. This specific impression is maintained in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Because this seminal artwork is often considered within the public domain, researchers and collectors worldwide can access high-quality reproductions, furthering the study of the complex relationship between the artist and his prominent community figures in the 17th-century Netherlands.