Artwork
Jan Antonides van der Linden
Jan Antonides van der Linden is an ink print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1665, this print by Rembrandt van Rijn bears the title Jan Antonides van der Linden. Executed as a combination of etching, drypoint and burin work, the image presents a monochrome portrait of a solemn man. He is dressed in a dark, textured coat with a high collar, his hands placed on his chest, and a modest landscape visible through a window behind him.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, identified by the inscription as Jan Antonides van der Linden, appears with a grave expression, suggesting a dignified or contemplative character. The inclusion of a simple exterior scene—a tree and a building—offers a subtle contrast to the interior setting, perhaps alluding to the subject’s connection to the outside world or his social standing.
Technique & Style
Rembrandt employed a layered approach, integrating etching’s fine lines with the richer, velvety marks of drypoint and the precise incisions of a burin. This mixture allowed for deep shadows in the hair and fabric, while preserving delicate textures. The resulting tonal depth and nuanced shading were innovative for mid‑seventeenth‑century printmaking.
History & Provenance
The work originates from Rembrandt’s later period, when he frequently combined multiple intaglio techniques. Although specific ownership records are limited, the print is catalogued among his late prints and has been referenced in scholarly inventories of his oeuvre, confirming its attribution and date.
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.
