s2e19 History of Prints Rembrandt (genre scenes and portraits)

May 10, 2022

In s2e19, Ann Shafer and Tru Ludwig continue talking about the best etcher ever, Rembrandt van Rijn. In this second of three episodes on Rembrandt, they tackle genre scenes (those would be scenes of everyday life) and portraits. Rembrandt is the consummate storyteller and in these etchings he gives us regular, everyday people like print dealers, cooks, beggars, and even rat catchers. His etchings are brimming with life. Remember, Rembrandt lives in Amsterdam, which is part of Holland, a country that had recently gained independence from Catholic Spain. These subjects are new territory for us.

In addition, Ann talks about a second female artist: Geertruydt Roghman.

Episode image: Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Beggars Receiving Alms at the Door of a House, 1648. Etching, engraving, and drypoint. Sheet (trimmed to platemark): 6 5/8 × 4 1/2 in. (16.8 × 11.5 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Adriaen van Ostade (Dutch, 1610–1685). The Family, 1647. Etching. Plate: 7 1/16 × 6 1/4 in. (18 × 15.9 cm.); sheet: 7 1/2 × 6 9/16 in. (19 × 16.7 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Jan van de Velde II (Dutch, c. 1593–1641), after Willem Buytewech (Dutch, 1591–1624). The Pancake Woman, c. 1626. Engraving. 185 x 129 mm. British Museum, London.  

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). The Pancake Woman, 1635. Etching. Sheet (trimmed to platemark): 11.4 x 8.3 cm. (4 3/8 x 3 ¼ in.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). The Rat Catcher, 1632. Etching. 140 x 125 mm. The Morgan Library & Museum, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Beggars Receiving Alms at the Door of a House, 1648. Etching, engraving, and drypoint. Sheet (trimmed to platemark): 6 5/8 × 4 1/2 in. (16.8 × 11.5 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Death Appearing to a Wedded Couple from an Open Grave, 1639. Etching. Plate: 10.9 x 7.9 cm (4 5/16 x 3 1/8 in.); sheet: 11 x 8.1 cm (4 5/16 x 3 3/16 in.). National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). A Woman Making Water, 1631. Etching. Sheet (trimmed to platemark): 79 x 63 mm. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). A Man Making Water, 1631. Etching. Sheet (trimmed to platemark): 82 x 48 mm. The British Museum, London.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). The Monk in the Cornfield, c. 1646. Etching and drypoint. Sheet (trimmed to platemark): 47 x 66 mm. The Morgan Library & Museum, New York.

Geertruydt Roghman (Dutch, 1625–1657). Kerck tot Sloten (Church at Sloten), plate 8 from the series Plaisante Lantschappen...na t’Leven geteekent door Roelant Roghman... (Pleasant Landscapes...after Roelant Roghman...). Engraving. Sheet (trimmed to platemark): 130 x 222 mm. Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

Geertruydt Roghman (Dutch, 1625–1657) after Aegidius Sadeler (Flemish, 1570–1629) after Jacopo Tintoretto (Italian, 1518–1594). Massacre of the Innocents, 1630–52. Engraving. Sheet: 395 × 496 mm. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Geertruydt Roghman (Dutch, 1625–1657) after Paulus Moreelse (Netherlandish, 1571–1638). Portrait of Roelant Savery, 1647. Engraving. Sheet: 267 × 162 mm. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Geertruydt Roghman (Dutch, 1625–1657). A Woman Spinning, 1648–50. Engraving. Plate: 213 × 171mm. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Geertruydt Roghman (Dutch, 1625–1657). A Woman Cooking, 1648–50. Engraving. Plate: 213 × 171mm. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Geertruydt Roghman (Dutch, 1625–1657). A Woman Cleaning, 1648–50. Engraving. Plate: 213 × 171mm. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Geertruydt Roghman (Dutch, 1625–1657). A Young Woman Ruffling, 1648–50. Engraving. Plate: 213 × 171mm. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Geertruydt Roghman (Dutch, 1625–1657). Two Women Sewing, 1648–50. Engraving. Plate: 213 × 171mm. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Aegidius Sadeler II (Netherlandish, 1568–1629). After Jacopo Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti) (Italian, 1518/19–1594). Massacre of the Innocents, c. 1600. Engraving. Sheet (trimmed within platemark): 392 x 493 mm (15 7/16 × 19 7/16 in). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Jacopo Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti) (Italian, 1518/19–1594). The Massacre of the Innocents, 1582–1587. Oil on canvas. 422 x 546 cm (13.8 x 17.9 feet). Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). The Night Watch, 1642. Oil on canvas. 437 x 363 cm. City of Amsterdam.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Self-Portrait Leaning on a Stone Sill, 1639. Etching, drypoint, and engraving. Plate: 7 7/8 x 6 5/16 in. (20 x 16 cm.); sheet: 8 5/16 x 6 5/8 in. (21.1 x 16.8 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Self-Portrait, Frowning, 1630. Etching. Plate: 7.3 × 6.1 cm (2 7/8 × 2 3/8 in.); sheet: 7.6 × 6.5 cm (3 × 2 9/16 in.). National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Self-Portrait Etching at a Window, 1648. Etching, drypoint, and engraving. Plate: 6 1/8 x 5 1/16 in. (15.5 x 12.9 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Self-Portrait with Saskia, 1636. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Self-Portrait, Surprised, 1630. Etching and drypoint. 52 x 46 mm. British Museum, London.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Self-Portrait with Raised Sabre, 1634. Etching and engraving. Sheet (trimmed to platemark): 124 x 102 mm. (4.8 x 4 in.). Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, AL.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Self-Portrait in Cap, Laughing, 1630. Etching. Sheet (trimmed to platemark): 53 x 43 mm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Self-Portrait in a Velvet Cap with Plume, c. 1638. Etching. Plate 136 x 105 mm.; sheet 143 x 111 mm. Christie’s, London.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Studies of the Head of Saskia and Others, 1636. Etching. 151 x 126 mm. The Morgan Library & Museum, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Self-Portrait Etching at a Window, 1648. Etching, drypoint, and engraving. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Self-Portrait Etching at a Window (early state), 1648. Etching and drypoint. 160 x 130 mm. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Raphael (Italian, 1483–1520). Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione, c. 1514–15. Oil on canvas. 82 x 67 cm. (32 x 26 in.). Louvre, Paris.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Self-Portrait, 1640. Oil on canvas. 102 x 80 cm. (40.1/8 x 31 3/8 in.). National Gallery, London.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Jan Uytenbogaert (The Gold Weigher), 1639. Etching and drypoint. Plate: 9 15/16 × 8 1/16 in. (25.2 × 20.5 cm.); sheet: 10 7/16 × 8 9/16 in. (26.5 × 21.8 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Jan Uytenbogaert (The Gold Weigher), 1639. Etching and drypoint (counterproof) with black chalk. Sheet: 270 x 226 mm. (10 5/8 x 8 7/8 in.); plate: 252 x 204 mm. (9 15/16 x 8 1/16 in.). Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore.

[DETAIL] Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Jan Uytenbogaert (The Gold Weigher), 1639. Etching and drypoint (counterproof) with black chalk. Sheet: 270 x 226 mm. (10 5/8 x 8 7/8 in.); plate: 252 x 204 mm. (9 15/16 x 8 1/16 in.). Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore.

[DETAIL] Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Jan Uytenbogaert (The Gold Weigher) (early state), 1639. Etching and drypoint, counterproof. Sheet (trimmed to platemark): 9 15/16 × 8 1/16 in. (25.2 × 20.5 cm.). British Museum, London.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Ephraim Bonus, Jewish Physician, 1647. Etching, engraving, and drypoint. Sheet: 9 5/8 × 7 3/16 in. (24.5 × 18.2 cm.); plate: 8 3/16 × 6 15/16 in. (20.8 × 17.7 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Jan Lutma, 1656. Etching, engraving, and drypoint. Sheet (trimmed to platemark): 8 × 6 1/16 in. (20.3 × 15.4 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Clement de Jonghe, 1651. Etching, engraving, and drypoint. Plate: 20.7 x 16.3 cm (8 1/8 x 6 7/16 in.); sheet: 21.2 x 16.8 cm (8 3/8 x 6 5/8 in.). National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

[DETAIL] Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Clement de Jonghe, 1651. Etching, engraving, and drypoint. Plate: 20.7 x 16.3 cm (8 1/8 x 6 7/16 in.); sheet: 21.2 x 16.8 cm (8 3/8 x 6 5/8 in.). National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Jan Six, 1647. Etching, engraving, and drypoint. Sheet: 9 5/8 × 7 5/8 in. (24.4 × 19.3 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Jan Cornelisz. Sylvius, 1633. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Jan Cornelisz. Sylvius, preacher, 1646. Etching, drypoint, and engraving. Sheet: 10 13/16 x 7 1/2 in. (27.4 x 19 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669). Jan Cornelisz. Sylvius, preacher, 1646. Etching, drypoint, and engraving. Sheet: 10 13/16 x 7 1/2 in. (27.4 x 19 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.