Artwork
Head of a boy
Head of a boy is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1643 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
This painting shows a boy’s head in oil paint. It’s small, just a study of a face, not a full scene.
Art historians once thought it was by Rembrandt’s friend Jan Lievens. In 1973, Rudi Ekkart proved it was likely Rembrandt’s work or from his studio. The wood panel was tested and dates to 1637 or later.
It lives at the Rijksmuseum now. It got there in 1909.
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Overview
Head of a Boy is an oil painting portraying a single youthful head. The work dates from around 1643 or later, based on scientific analysis of the wooden support. It measures modestly, functioning as a study rather than a narrative composition, and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures the features of a young male sitter, rendered with close attention to facial expression and light. While no explicit narrative accompanies the image, the intimate scale suggests a private study, possibly intended for practice or as a personal record of the child’s likeness.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on a wooden panel, the painting displays the chiaroscuro handling typical of the mid‑17th‑century Dutch school. The brushwork and modeling of flesh tones align with the approach of Rembrandt’s workshop, emphasizing depth through subtle gradations of light and shadow.
History & Provenance
Originally signed with the names ‘Rembrandt / geretuceer … Lieve …’, the work was long attributed to Jan Lievens, a contemporary of Rembrandt. In 1973, scholar Rudi Ekkart challenged this view, proposing a Rembrandt studio origin. The Rijksmuseum acquired the piece in 1909, where it remains on display.
Context
The painting emerges from a period when Rembrandt’s studio produced numerous studies of heads and figures, both for training apprentices and for compositional experimentation. Such works often circulated under varied attributions, reflecting the collaborative nature of the workshop.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.
