The Virgin and Child with the Cat and the Snake

The Virgin and Child with the Cat and the Snake, created by Rembrandt van Rijn Dutch, 1606-1669, is an exceptional example of printmaking from the Dutch Golden Age. Dated 1654, this subtle yet complex impression is executed as an etching on delicate cream Japanese paper, a choice that enhances the subtleties of the line work and provides a warm tonality to the composition.

Produced late in his career, the work displays Rembrandt’s characteristic blending of sacred iconography with intimate domestic realism. The Virgin Mary is depicted seated, nursing the infant Christ, while the surrounding details anchor the scene in the everyday life of 17th-century Netherlands. The title references the inclusion of seemingly disparate elements: a household cat nestled at the Virgin’s foot, and a small snake winding near the lower edge-a probable symbolic reference to the Fall or Christ's eventual triumph over evil.

Rembrandt’s mastery of the etching technique is evident in the varied density of the cross-hatching and the sophisticated use of light and shadow, which models the figures with palpable depth. The artist utilized the pressure of the plate and the texture of the specialized paper to achieve a rich textural quality unique to his prints from this period. This specific impression resides within the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As one of the most widely studied prints by Rembrandt, the image and its various impressions are frequently referenced in art historical literature and appear in public domain collections globally, allowing wider access to the artist's inventive late-career output.