Woman with a high headdress wrapped around the chin: bust

"Woman with a high headdress wrapped around the chin: bust" is an intimate print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1630. Executed on paper, this early work exemplifies the artist's burgeoning mastery of etching and drypoint techniques, a medium Rijn explored intensively during his final years in Leiden before his pivotal move to Amsterdam. The classification of the work as a print means that reproductions and studies of this masterwork are widely available today, contributing to its broad public domain accessibility.

Dating to a pivotal moment in Rijn's emerging career, this piece displays the intense character study often associated with his contemporary works. The subject is defined by her elaborate attire; a high, voluminous headdress tightly frames her face and wraps securely beneath her chin, obscuring the rest of her body in a simple bust format. While the print may not represent a specific portrait commission, the detailed rendering suggests it functioned as a tronie or character study, allowing Rijn to practice depicting various complex textures and subtle human expressions. Rijn utilizes dramatic contrast typical of the period, concentrating light on the subject’s aged face to emphasize the finely rendered lines of the fabric and the solemnity of her gaze.

This expertly crafted print is a valuable part of the historical collection housed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It stands as powerful evidence of Rijn's foundational printmaking skills, showcasing the technical precision and psychological depth that would define his mature graphic output throughout the Dutch Golden Age.