Artwork
Reclining Female Nude
Reclining Female Nude is an ink print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1658 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:recto: in plate, in image, at lower left: Rembrandt f. 1658; verso: at lower center in graphite in later hand: B. 205 / c.17369
- Markings
- Marked:recto: none; verso: Lessing J. Rosenwald and National Gallery of Art
About this work
Overview
Reclining Female Nude is an etching created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1658. Executed on laid paper, the work combines etching, drypoint, and burin techniques to render a solitary figure in a subdued tonal range. The print measures modestly and exemplifies Rembrandt’s late‑period interest in the human form rendered without pigment.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a woman lying on her side, her back turned toward the viewer. Her torso is rendered with soft, rounded contours, while one arm supports her head. The figure’s quiet repose, set against an indistinct, darkened background, invites contemplation of intimacy and the private sphere, typical of Rembrandt’s nuanced approach to the nude.
Technique & Style
Rembrandt employs a layered approach: fine etched lines establish the overall outline, drypoint adds velvety, burr‑rich shadows, and burin work sharpens details such as the hair and folds of the fabric. The juxtaposition of smooth washes and scratchy textures creates a subtle chiaroscuro effect, allowing light and shade to model the body without the use of color.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in the artist’s later years, a period marked by experimentation with printmaking processes. While specific ownership records are limited, the work has been catalogued among Rembrandt’s extensive oeuvre of etchings and is held in several major museum collections, reflecting its recognized place within his print legacy.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.
