The Tribute Money by Rembrandt van Rijn, dated 1635, is a masterful example of printmaking executed in etching on laid paper. This work falls squarely within the prolific period of the Dutch Golden Age, specifically the first half of the seventeenth century (1601 to 1650), when Rijn was rapidly solidifying his reputation in Amsterdam. As a practitioner of graphic arts, Rijn was innovative, treating the copper plate like a drawing surface to achieve highly expressive lines and varied tonal effects, often utilizing drypoint alongside traditional etching techniques to achieve unprecedented depth in his images.
The subject illustrates the biblical account (Matthew 22:15-22) of the Pharisees challenging Christ regarding the payment of taxes to the Roman authorities. Rijn depicts the intense confrontation surrounding the coin, emphasizing the moral and political dilemma presented to Jesus. The composition relies on strong contrasts of light and shadow, characteristic of the dramatic visual style prevalent during the period. In this small-scale medium, Rijn expertly renders the intricate facial expressions and gestures of the figures, highlighting their different reactions: the skepticism of the questioners versus the authoritative calmness of Christ. This intense psychological focus and the clear narrative structure are enduring hallmarks of Rijn’s approach to religious subjects.
Created during a period rich in religious and secular commissions, this print demonstrates why Rijn is considered one of history’s greatest graphic artists. The high detail achieved in this type of print meant that copies could be widely distributed, contributing significantly to the artist’s fame across the Netherlands and Europe. This exceptional impression of the work resides in the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to the historical age of the medium and the global distribution of these devotional prints, many institutional holdings today consider high-resolution images of such Baroque pieces accessible to the public domain for research and scholarly analysis.
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