The Persian

The etching The Persian (1756) is a significant work in the history of printmaking, created by the German artist Georg Friedrich Schmidt after an original concept or derived image attributed to the school of Rembrandt van Rijn. Executed entirely in the complex medium of etching, this print exemplifies the intensive 18th-century European fascination with the Dutch Golden Age master and the proliferation of his style through reproductive graphic arts.

Working during the period 1751 to 1775, the German printmaker Schmidt excelled at translating the dramatic chiaroscuro and textural depth characteristic of Rijn’s output into black and white linear forms. The piece focuses on a portrait or tronie of a figure characterized by implied exoticism, suggested by the title. The deep shadows and carefully articulated folds of the clothing highlight the expressive gaze of the subject, a hallmark of the character studies produced by Rijn and his followers. This emphasis on detailed attire and expressive facial study situates the work within the tradition of character representation prevalent in 17th-century Dutch art, now being newly reinterpreted by 18th-century engravers.

Although Rijn had died almost a century prior to the creation of The Persian, Schmidt's dedication to cataloging and replicating the Dutch master’s corpus solidified his own international reputation as a skilled reproductive artist. This print serves as an important historical document, demonstrating how German artists of the mid-18th century continued to engage critically with the legacy of Rijn’s dramatic print production, ensuring his lasting influence across Europe. This masterful print is currently held in the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., providing a high-quality example of historical prints often made accessible through public domain archives.