Artwork
The Artist's Mother Seated at a Table, Looking Right: Three Quarter Length
The Artist's Mother Seated at a Table, Looking Right: Three Quarter Length is a print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1631 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1926.472
- Credit line
- Bequest of Ralph King
About this work
Overview
Created around 1631 by Rembrandt van Rijn, this print portrays an elderly woman seated at a table, captured in a three-quarter length perspective. It is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, believed to be the artist's mother, is depicted in contemplative solitude. Her somber expression and distant gaze convey a sense of introspection, while clasped hands and subdued attire add to the serene, melancholic atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Rembrandt employs chiaroscuro to create depth and draw focus to the subject's face, leveraging strong contrasts between light and dark to sculptural effect.
History & Provenance
Dating to circa 1631, the work's early history is not detailed here, but it is currently housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art, alongside other chiaroscuro exemplars.
Context
This piece reflects Rembrandt's fascination with capturing the dignity and depth of ordinary, aging subjects, common in Dutch Golden Age art.
Legacy
While specific influence of this work is not highlighted, it contributes to Rembrandt's broader legacy of innovatively using light to evoke emotional depth in portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.
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