The Artist's Mother Seated at a Table Looking Right: Three-Quarter Length

The Artist's Mother Seated at a Table Looking Right: Three-Quarter Length is a seminal etching created by Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) sometime between 1626 and 1636, a highly productive and experimental period in his early career. This print exemplifies the young master's technical proficiency and growing ambition as a printmaker during the Dutch Golden Age. Executed using the etching technique, the work is documented as the second state of three by New Hollstein's catalog, allowing curators and researchers to observe the subtle compositional shifts Rembrandt made while developing the final image.

The subject is a contemplative portrait of an older woman, widely identified as the artist's mother, Neeltgen Willemsdr. van Zuytbrouck. She is depicted seated at a table in a three-quarter length pose, looking thoughtfully to the right. The intimate nature of the scene places this work among Rembrandt's frequent studies of family and older women, subjects through which he explored dramatic character, human frailty, and emotional depth. Through meticulous shading and crosshatching, he uses the etching needle to render the textures of her skin and clothing, demonstrating his characteristic mastery of light and shadow, even in black-and-white prints.

As a crucial example of Dutch seventeenth-century printmaking, this powerful image highlights Rembrandt's innovative approach to portraiture, elevating the genre through psychological intensity rather than idealized representation. The work is classified as a print within the esteemed holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serving as a primary source for understanding the development of the artist's foundational technical and thematic skills. Today, these historically significant prints are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring global access to Rembrandt's detailed artistry.