The Small Lion Hunt (With One Lion)

The Small Lion Hunt (With One Lion) by Rembrandt van Rijn Dutch, 1606-1669, is a dramatic early print executed between 1624 and 1634. This etching on paper, classified simply as a print, showcases the dynamic line work and narrative intensity characteristic of the young master. During this period, the Netherlands was experiencing the height of its Golden Age, fostering an environment where Rembrandt flourished both as a painter and as a prolific printmaker. He produced hundreds of prints throughout his career, solidifying etching as a serious artistic medium capable of both grand narrative and intimate portraiture.

Although the subject of a violent lion hunt was more often associated with Southern Baroque masters like Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt tackles the theme with characteristic energy and focus. The work captures a moment of chaotic action: mounted hunters, armed with spears, and a pack of dogs furiously attack a single, struggling lion. This intense focus on drama and movement reflects the pervasive influence of Baroque dynamism on Dutch art. The expressive quality of the lines, achieved through the etching technique, demonstrates Rembrandt’s commitment to conveying psychological and physical struggle, a theme central to his later studies of humanity. The immediacy and drama achieved through the rapid strokes reveal his early mastery of the medium. Today, exceptional prints like this, often available through public domain initiatives, remain essential references for studying the master’s technical evolution.

This historically significant print is part of the celebrated collection of Netherlandish art housed at the Art Institute of Chicago. Created during the artist’s twenties, this piece provides valuable insight into the formative years of 1606-1669, documenting his initial experiments in printmaking and his profound interest in vigorous narrative composition.