The Artist's Mother with Her Hand on Her Chest
1631
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Artist's Mother with Her Hand on Her Chest is a 1631 ink by Rembrandt, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white drawing of a woman’s face and shoulders. She’s wearing a dark, textured collar that looks heavy. Her hands rest on her chest, fingers slightly spread. The lines around her face and hair are scratchy and uneven, like the artist pressed hard with a tool. The image is made using a technique that leaves behind lots of tiny marks. It’s not smooth—it’s raw, almost like sketching with a sharp pencil but more controlled. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this made prints.
