Woman with a high headdress wrapped around the chin: bust

Woman with a high headdress wrapped around the chin: bust is a remarkable example of early character studies created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1630. This print, executed on paper, dates from a pivotal period in the artist's career, coinciding with his transition between Leiden and Amsterdam, when he was developing his mastery of etching and engraving techniques. The classification of this work as a print demonstrates the centrality of graphic arts to Rijn’s output during the early 1630s.

The subject matter belongs to a type of character study known as a tronie, wherein the artist explores human emotion, expression, and costume rather than depicting a specific portrait commission. The woman is presented in bust format, enveloped by an elaborate, voluminous high headdress that obscures her hair and wraps tightly around the chin, lending her an exotic or timeless quality. The intricate arrangement of the folds and drapery highlights Rijn’s ability to render complex textures using fine, precise lines and subtle tonal variations, demonstrating why his early prints are considered foundational to the history of the medium.

Measuring only a few inches high, this small, intimate study showcases Rijn's developing aptitude for capturing personality and atmosphere through the dramatic interplay of shadow and light—hallmarks of Dutch Baroque art. Today, the work is held in the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is preserved as part of the Dutch national heritage. As a historically significant piece dating to 1630, high-quality digital reproductions of this masterwork are frequently made available in the public domain, ensuring its continued study by scholars and art enthusiasts worldwide.