The Image Seen by Nebuchadnezzar
1655
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a lone figure standing on a pedestal, holding a scroll or book. The person is dressed in loose, old-fashioned clothes with a hat pulled low. Behind them, a wild tangle of lines looks like a storm or crowd—it’s hard to tell what it is, but it’s swirling around their head. The artist used sharp, scratchy lines to create texture, almost like they were drawing fast. The figure’s face is half-hidden, making them feel mysterious. Want to see how Rembrandt made these marks? Look up *etching, drypoint, aquatint*.
