The Artist's Mother, Head and Bust
1628
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Artist's Mother, Head and Bust is a 1628 ink by Rembrandt, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a woman’s face and shoulders, drawn in quick, loose lines. Her hair is wild and tangled, and her expression is calm but serious. The paper is light, almost beige, with dark ink marking every fold in her clothing and wrinkle on her skin. The artist used a technique that lets ink pile up in layers, making some lines darker than others. This isn’t a polished painting—it’s raw, like a fast sketch. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Rembrandt built up images with ink and acid.
