Old Man in Meditation, leaning on a Book

This lightly bitten etching of an old man holding a closed book in a moment of quiet contemplation is reminiscent of the figure of Saint Jerome, which Rembrandt depicted on several occasions (see lot 35). In this instance, however, the inclusion of a globe, faintly seen in the lower right corner, indicates that he is a scholar rather than a saint. It is executed with great economy, the contours loosely delineated, with sparse areas of shadow behind the scholar’s back, shoulders and neck, the book and globe, just sufficient to suggest volume and space. The effect is the opposite of the ‘dark manner’ and ‘night piece’ prints (see lots 19 and 60) which are heavily etched and largely subsumed in inky darkness, relying on passages of illumination to define the subject. In this print only essential detail is included and the overall effect of the lightly etched lines and large blank areas is sketch-like and reminiscent of a silverpoint drawing. The shallowness of the etched lines did not permit a large print-run and impressions of this delicate and subtle etching are rare.