Gebaarde oude man met hoge bontmuts en gesloten ogen Possibly 1632 - 1808

Rembrandt van Rijn created this etching of a bearded old man with a fur cap sometime in the mid-17th century. In Dutch Golden Age society, the elderly held a special place, embodying wisdom and experience. Rembrandt, through his art, often engaged with themes of aging and human emotion. This small, intimate etching captures the introspective mood of the sitter, his eyes closed, perhaps lost in thought. Rembrandt was not only a master painter but also a prolific printmaker. Etchings, like this one, were more accessible and affordable compared to paintings, making them popular among a growing middle class eager to engage with art. Institutions like the Guild of Saint Luke played a crucial role in regulating artistic production and commerce in the Netherlands at the time. To fully appreciate Rembrandt's work, we turn to historical archives, letters, and studies of the period's social structures, giving us insights into the cultural values that shaped this profound image.