Artwork
The Artist's Mother in a Cloth Headdress, Looking Down
The Artist's Mother in a Cloth Headdress, Looking Down is an ink print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1633 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Artist's Mother in a Cloth Headdress, Looking Down is an etching by Rembrandt van Rijn, created in 1633. It is a print that showcases the artist's skill with the medium.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts the artist's mother in profile, her face calm and introspective as she looks downward. Her hair is covered by a loose cloth, adding to the serene atmosphere of the image.
Technique & Style
The work is characterized by quick, scratchy lines that convey a sense of energy and spontaneity. The artist's restless hand is evident in the overlapping and blurring of lines, particularly around the subject's hair and collar.
Context
This etching is a study, rather than a polished work, and provides insight into Rembrandt's creative process and his use of etching as a medium.
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.
The Artist's Mother, Head and Bust
The Artist's Mother Seated, in an Oriental Headdress
The Artist's Mother with Her Hand on Her Chest
The Artist's Mother Seated at a Table, Looking Right
The Artist's Mother with Her Hand on Her Chest
The Artist's Mother Seated, in an Oriental Headdress
The Artist's Mother Seated at a Table, Looking Right
The Artist's Mother Seated at a Table, Looking Right: Three Quarter Length