Artwork
The Triumph of Mordecai
The Triumph of Mordecai 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
The Triumph of Mordecai is a print executed by Rembrandt van Rijn around 1641. Rendered in black and white, the work depicts a bustling public scene centered on a robed figure holding a scroll and gesturing upward. Around him a crowd reacts with varied expressions, while faint architectural arches suggest an open space. The composition conveys movement and a sense of collective attention.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is traditionally identified as Mordecai, a biblical character celebrated for his role in the Persian court. By presenting him elevated, scroll in hand, and surrounded by an attentive assembly, the image alludes to a moment of proclamation or triumph, inviting viewers to contemplate themes of authority, revelation, and communal response within a religious narrative.
Technique & Style
The etched lines create architectural depth, while the drypoint’s burr produces darker, more textured areas that bring certain figures forward.
Rembrandt employed a combination of etching and drypoint on laid paper, allowing for both fine line work and richer, velvety blacks. The etched lines create architectural depth, while the drypoint’s burr produces darker, more textured areas that bring certain figures forward. This interplay of line and tone, characteristic of his mid‑career prints, generates a dynamic spatial hierarchy within the crowded scene.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1641, the print belongs to the period when Rembrandt was intensively exploring narrative prints. It was likely produced for the Dutch market, where biblical subjects enjoyed popularity. Surviving impressions have appeared in several European collections, reflecting the work’s circulation among connoisseurs and its inclusion in catalogues of Rembrandt’s graphic oeuvre.
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.
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