The Artist's Mother Seated at a Table, Looking Right

The Artist's Mother Seated at a Table, Looking Right by Rembrandt van Rijn is a poignant example of the artist's early mastery of printmaking, executed in 1631. This refined etching, created during the flourishing Dutch Golden Age, captures a deeply intimate subject. The period of 1601 to 1650 was crucial for Rijn’s development in Amsterdam, where he rapidly established a reputation not only for painting but also for producing highly sought-after prints.

The subject is the artist's mother, Neeltgen Willemsdochter van Zuytbroeck, a frequent model in Rijn's early studies. She is depicted with a contemplative or somewhat weary expression, seated facing forward but with her gaze directed sharply toward the right edge of the composition. Rijn utilizes the delicate line work inherent to the etching process to define texture, particularly in the heavy drapery and the aged features of his mother’s face. The handling of light and shadow, characteristic of the 17th-century Dutch style, highlights the sitter against a darker background, emphasizing her focused expression and inner reflection.

Although this work functions as a portrait, it also falls into the category of tronie, or character study, where the focus is less on exact identification and more on the universal exploration of emotion and human character. Rijn returned repeatedly to his mother as a model, using her recognizable appearance to practice expressive physiognomy and master the psychological depth of his sitters. This study remains a foundational piece for understanding the young Rijn's contributions to the field of prints. Today, the composition is widely accessible, often available through public domain initiatives, allowing global study of the delicate artistry. This impression is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art.