Who painted The Third Oriental Head?

The Third Oriental Head was painted by Rembrandt in 1635.

Where can I see The Third Oriental Head?

The Third Oriental Head is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Third Oriental Head?

The Third Oriental Head is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of The Third Oriental Head?

Museum-quality prints of The Third Oriental Head are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Third Oriental Head

Rembrandt , 1635

The Third Oriental Head is an ink print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Third Oriental Head is an etching executed on laid paper by the Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn in 1635. The work presents a solitary male figure, rendered in monochrome, whose head and shoulders occupy the composition. The image is signed and dated, reflecting Rembrandt’s early exploration of exotic subjects through the medium of print.

Subject & Meaning

The exotic attire reflects 17th‑century European fascination with Oriental motifs, offering a study of cultural otherness within a personal, meditative pose.

The portrait depicts a man dressed in a turban adorned with a long feather, his facial features marked by a long, straight nose, thick eyebrows, and a thin, pointed mustache. His gaze is directed downward, suggesting introspection or a contemplative state. The exotic attire reflects 17th‑century European fascination with Oriental motifs, offering a study of cultural otherness within a personal, meditative pose.

Technique & Style

Rembrandt employed a fine, detailed etching technique, using a network of lines and cross‑hatching to model the textures of skin, hair, and fabric. The turban’s folds and the feather are rendered with delicate incisions, while the background is left rough, with scratched areas that create a muted, atmospheric backdrop. The chiaroscuro achieved through varying line density gives the figure a three‑dimensional presence.

History & Provenance

Created during Rembrandt’s early period in Amsterdam, the print was part of a series of Oriental heads that the artist produced for the market. Original impressions have surfaced in several European collections, and the work has been documented in catalogues raisonnés of Rembrandt’s prints. Its survival in good condition attests to the durability of the laid paper and the artist’s careful handling of the plate.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Rembrandt

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.