The Rat Catcher

The Rat Catcher, created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1632, is a masterful example of the artist's developing skill in the etching medium. Executed during the peak of the Dutch Golden Age, this small print captures a figure representing a common, if marginalized, occupation in the 17th-century Netherlands. The composition is notable for Rijn’s experimental approach to line and tone; he utilized deep etching and occasionally drypoint, techniques he favored to achieve dark, velvety shadows and a powerful sense of atmospheric depth, qualities rarely seen in graphic art of the time.

The subject, the itinerant rat catcher, is rendered with the dramatic realism characteristic of Rijn’s work from this decade. Even in a diminutive format, the attention to textural detail in the figure's clothing and the psychological focus on the subject elevate the piece beyond a simple genre study. Rijn’s innovative treatment of light, which isolates the central figure from deep shadow, was crucial to establishing his reputation among print collectors across Europe.

This exceptional 1632 work is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Due to the lasting influence and historical importance of Rijn’s etchings, the foundational image of this piece, like many significant historical prints, is widely distributed today through public domain resources, ensuring the continued study and appreciation of The Rat Catcher.