Jan Asselijn

About this work

This portrait etching depicts a man sitting at a desk, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a dark robe with a white collar. He has long, wavy hair and is looking directly at the viewer. His right arm rests on the desk, while his left arm is bent at the elbow, with his hand holding a piece of paper. The desk is cluttered with papers and books, suggesting that the man is a scholar or writer. The background of the etching is plain, with no distracting details to take away from the subject. The level of detail and texture in this etching is impressive, with the artist using a range of techniques to create a sense of depth and dimensionality. For more information on the artist's use of etching, drypoint, and burin, explore the work of Rembrandt van Rijn.