Artwork
Jan Uytenbogaert, "The Goldweigher"
Jan Uytenbogaert, "The Goldweigher" is an ink print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the Kunstmuseum Basel. The Goldweigher is a black‑and‑white etching executed on laid paper in 1639.
About this work
Overview
The Goldweigher is a black‑and‑white etching executed on laid paper in 1639. The print presents an interior scene populated by a seated man in a fur‑trimmed robe, a pair of children, and assorted objects such as bags of money, books, and weighing tools. A small dog is visible beneath the table, adding a domestic touch to the composition.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the image, the man holds a balance scale, suggesting a preoccupation with measurement, trade, or moral judgment. The presence of coins, weights, and a hammer reinforces the theme of weighing value, while the children’s curious gestures may allude to the transmission of knowledge or the innocence juxtaposed with commercial activity.
Technique & Style
The work is an etching, a printmaking process in which lines are incised into a metal plate with a needle and then inked and pressed onto paper. The artist renders fine details—folds in the robe, the texture of fur, and the metallic sheen of the scale—through delicate line work and cross‑hatching, characteristic of early 17th‑century Dutch printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created in 1639, the print is attributed to Rembrandt van Rijn, though it has appeared under the name of Jan Uytenbogaert in some catalogues. It circulated among collectors of the period and later entered museum holdings, where it has been documented in several print collections and exhibition catalogues.
Context
The image reflects the commercial vibrancy of the Dutch Golden Age, when weighing and measuring were central to trade, taxation, and moral discourse. Prints of this type often served both decorative and didactic purposes, illustrating everyday occupations while prompting reflection on ethical considerations of wealth.
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.
