Sick Woman with a Large White Headdress (Saskia)

"Sick Woman with a Large White Headdress (Saskia)" is an intimate and technically refined print created by Rembrandt van Rijn between 1641 and 1642. This piece is classified as a print, executed primarily through etching, enhanced by subtle touches of drypoint, a technique which allows for the creation of richer, velvety lines characteristic of the artist’s mastery of the plate. Created during the peak of the Dutch Golden Age (1601 to 1650), this depiction of Rijn's wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh, shortly before her death, exemplifies the deeply personal emotional depth the artist often brought to his portraiture.

The artwork dates to a time when Rijn was intensely focused on printmaking as both a primary expressive medium and a vital source of income. Unlike many idealized portraits of the era, the work captures a sense of vulnerability and impending tragedy. Saskia is rendered seated and frail, her head dominated by a large, white covering that contrasts sharply with the delicate, shadowed lines defining her face. This approach to portraiture avoids theatricality, presenting an unflinching view of illness that resonates deeply within the context of 17th-century Dutch realism.

Rijn skillfully used drypoint to create deep burrs, resulting in the soft, dark shadows around Saskia's eyes and the texture of her clothing. The rapid evolution of Rijn's techniques during this period allowed him to achieve tonal variations previously unseen in standard etching. This important example of 17th-century Dutch art resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of its age and profound cultural significance, high-quality images of this masterwork are frequently available as public domain resources, allowing the study and appreciation of Rijn's exceptional ability to convey profound human emotion through his extensive output of prints.