Sheet of studies of men's heads: man crying out, three quarters left: bust

Sheet of studies of men's heads: man crying out, three quarters left: bust is a rare print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1629. This intimate work exemplifies the Dutch master’s intense focus on human emotion and physiognomy during his formative years in Leiden. The central subject features a man caught in a dramatic moment of distress or pain, rendered in a striking three-quarters view. Rijn utilized the medium of print on parchment, an unusual and durable surface for such detailed studies, allowing him to explore fine lines and textures crucial for conveying raw expression.

Dated early in his career, 1629 marks a crucial period when Rijn was rapidly mastering etching techniques, often creating character studies known as tronies to build a visual vocabulary for larger narrative scenes. This specific sheet, with its emphasis on the open mouth and contorted features, functions as an exercise in pathos—the expression of profound emotional suffering. Rijn’s technical skill is evident in the dynamic line work used to define the strained musculature around the eyes and mouth. The inclusion of other, less defined heads surrounding the main figure reinforces the function of this piece as an exploratory sheet of studies, designed for the artist’s own rigorous self-instruction.

Classified primarily as an early print, the choice of parchment as the support material distinguishes it from Rijn's more common paper etchings of the period. This work is securely held within the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum, contributing significantly to the institution’s comprehensive holdings of 17th-century Dutch art. As a valuable historical document detailing the growth of this Golden Age master, prints and high-resolution images of the study often enter the public domain, making Rijn's artistic development accessible for global scholarship.