Hendrickje Sleeping 1654

Rembrandt van Rijn created this intimate study, "Hendrickje Sleeping", using brown wash on paper. During the Dutch Golden Age, Rembrandt challenged the norms of portraiture, often choosing subjects from his immediate circle, like his partner Hendrickje Stoffels. Here, Hendrickje isn't idealized, but captured in a moment of vulnerable repose. As a woman from a humble background who became Rembrandt’s common-law wife and the target of social disapproval, Hendrickje's representation moves beyond the conventional depictions of women at the time. The choice to portray her in such a private, unguarded state speaks volumes about Rembrandt's view of beauty and worth. The sketch possesses an emotional charge. Rembrandt’s loose, fluid strokes convey the softness of Hendrickje’s form. The simple medium of brown wash enhances the work's intimacy, inviting the viewer to share in this quiet moment. It’s a tender portrayal, one that reflects the complexities of love, social status, and personal connection in 17th-century Holland.