St. Jerome beside a Pollard Willow

St. Jerome beside a Pollard Willow by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) is a profoundly spiritual image dating to 1648, showcasing the artist’s mastery of graphic technique during the height of the Dutch Golden Age. Classified as a print, the work was executed using both etching and drypoint, resulting in rich, deep lines and burr that lend a velvety texture to the shadowed areas. This particular impression is the fourth and final state, demonstrating Rembrandt's meticulous process of revising and refining his plates.

The composition centers on Saint Jerome, the early Christian scholar famed for translating the Bible and retreating to the wilderness. The saint is seated, absorbed in his reading, highlighting the contemplative solitude of his life of penance. The setting is dominated by the striking form of a pollard willow, a tree harshly pruned back, which emphasizes the desolate nature of his retreat. This deliberate inclusion of the specific tree underscores the theme of endurance and isolation. Although often subtle in his depictions, Rembrandt includes the traditional attribute of the saint, suggesting the companionship of animals in the wild.

This mature print perfectly illustrates Rembrandt’s ability to use light and shadow—a technique learned from his oil paintings—to reveal the inner life of his subject. The deep shadows created by the drypoint accentuate Jerome’s figure and the gnarled trunk of the tree, generating an atmosphere of quiet introspection. As one of the celebrated prints created by the artist, the work is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Many impressions of such historic prints eventually fall into the public domain, securing their permanent accessibility for study and appreciation worldwide.