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 poignant etching by Rembrandt van Rijn Dutch, 1606-1669, executed early in his career between 1626 and 1636. This print is characteristic of the artist’s developing mastery of the graphic medium, demonstrating a sophisticated use of the etched line on paper to render texture and emotional depth. During this formative decade, Rembrandt frequently used his immediate family, including his mother, Cornelia (Neeltgen) Willemsdr. van Zuytbrouck, as models to explore naturalistic expressions and the effects of light and shadow, often blurring the lines between traditional portraiture and the expressive character study known as a tronie.

The composition depicts the elderly woman seated, gazing toward the right with an expression of quiet contemplation. Rembrandt employed careful cross-hatching to model the volume of her form and articulate the heavily textured fabric of her garments and the subtle wrinkles of her face. This unflinching, observational style was central to the artistic production of the Netherlands during the 17th century. The intense focus on the sitter's humanity elevates the work beyond a simple likeness, establishing it as a key example of the Dutch Golden Age approach to realism.

As a significant example of Netherlandish printmaking, the work showcases how Rembrandt transformed etching into a powerful fine art form. This historic piece resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, contributing to the museum’s comprehensive holdings of old master graphic works. For scholars and enthusiasts studying the evolution of prints, the high historical value of such works ensures that images are widely accessible through public domain resources.