Artwork
Portrait of a Boy in Profile
Portrait of a Boy in Profile is an ink print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1641 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Rembrandt van Rijn produced this etching in 1641, depicting a young boy shown in profile. Executed on laid paper, the work measures a modest size typical of the artist’s prints and bears his signature in the upper right corner. The composition focuses on the head and shoulders, offering a concise study of youthful features rendered in a single, swift impression.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a boy whose face is turned sideways, hair rendered with tangled, energetic strokes that suggest movement and spontaneity. A simple collar frames the neck, while the rest of the figure recedes into minimal, gestural lines. The portrait captures a momentary glimpse of the sitter, emphasizing character through expression rather than elaborate narrative context.
Technique & Style
Created by etching, the artist incised lines into a copper plate, which were then filled with ink and pressed onto textured laid paper. The resulting marks are uneven and scratchy, reflecting a rapid, almost improvisational hand. Such a loose approach was characteristic of Rembrandt’s later prints, where the vitality of line often superseded precise detailing.
History & Provenance
The print originates from Rembrandt’s mature period, a time when he explored intimate portraiture through printmaking. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work has been catalogued among his 1641 series of etchings and appears in several museum collections, confirming its attribution and preservation as part of the artist’s extensive graphic legacy.
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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.
