Staande man met stok, naar links

Staande man met stok, naar links by Rembrandt van Rijn, dating from approximately 1629-1630, is a compelling early drawing that demonstrates the young artist's facility with quick studies of human figures. Executed during his formative years in Leiden, this work showcases Rijn's experimental approach to drawing. The piece utilizes a combination of media, including chalk and deck paint applied to paper, a typical approach for preparatory sketches or observational studies during the Dutch Golden Age.

The subject, a standing man leaning on a stick, is rendered with an immediacy that suggests Rijn was capturing a casual, momentary pose. The application of chalk allows for the quick definition of form and contour, while the deck paint may have been employed to add deeper saturation or highlight specific areas of clothing or shadow. Many of Rijn's early drawings served as fundamental source material for later etchings or paintings, or were created simply as exercises in capturing posture and the effects of light on drapery. This piece belongs to the strong tradition of figure studies common in 17th-century Netherlands art, where artists rigorously practiced capturing realism and movement.

This significant drawing provides direct insight into the formative working methods of one of the Netherlands' most influential masters as his career began to flourish. Today, the original work is safeguarded within the prestigious collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Due to the historical importance and high demand for access to Rembrandt’s early oeuvre, digitized versions of this piece are frequently shared across digital platforms, making high-quality prints and archival versions widely available through public domain initiatives.