The Hundred Guilder Print

The Hundred Guilder Print is one of the most celebrated print works created by the Dutch master Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn), dating from approximately 1648. This highly detailed print exemplifies Rembrandt’s technical ingenuity, utilizing a complex combination of etching, engraving, and drypoint on a single plate. This multi-faceted approach allowed the artist to achieve an unparalleled richness of tone and depth, particularly through the deep, velvety shadows created by the drypoint burr. The available impression is confirmed as the rare second state of two, showcasing the finalized, dense composition.

The subject is traditionally interpreted as Christ Preaching, drawn from the Gospel of Matthew (specifically Matthew 19), where Jesus addresses the rich young man while surrounded by crowds of onlookers. Rembrandt skillfully organizes the visual narrative, placing Jesus centrally, highly illuminated, surrounded by diverse groups of men and women. On the right, the sick, the humble, and children seek healing, while on the left, the skeptical Pharisees and scholars engage in sharp debate. Rembrandt masterfully characterizes the emotional and social spectrum of 17th-century life through the varied faces and postures of the figures, making the scene both immediate and deeply spiritual.

The popular title, The Hundred Guilder Print, is apocryphally derived from an alleged anecdote concerning the high price Rembrandt either paid for the plate or charged for the final product—a remarkable sum for a print during the Dutch Golden Age. As one of the most technically ambitious and influential religious prints of the era, the work significantly impacted later generations of European graphic artists. This masterpiece is today a cornerstone of the European prints collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Given its historical significance, high-quality images of this masterwork are widely distributed in the public domain.