Thomas Haaringh

The influential print Thomas Haaringh was created by Rembrandt van Rijn sometime between 1650 and 1660. This powerful depiction, classified simply as a print, showcases Rijn’s masterful late-career command of combining etching with drypoint. The drypoint technique, characterized by the soft, rich, burr-driven lines created directly on the copper plate, lends the portrait an unparalleled tonal richness and atmospheric depth, distinguishing it from Rijn’s earlier, more linear prints.

Created during the peak of the Dutch Golden Age in the Netherlands, this work exemplifies the artist's mature style. Unlike his earlier, often busier compositions, Rijn emphasizes texture, subtle light modulation, and the psychological presence of the sitter. The use of deep shadow and meticulously varying line weights draws intense focus to the face, giving the subject, Thomas Haaringh, a sense of gravitas and introspection typical of the artist’s portraiture from this decade.

Rijn's work in printmaking allowed for widespread appreciation and dissemination of his artistry during and after his lifetime. Today, important impressions of the artist’s graphic work, particularly late-period masterpieces like this one, are often digitized and available through public domain initiatives, ensuring continued scholarly access. This exceptional impression of the print resides in the distinguished collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, preserving a vital example of 17th-century European graphic art.