Man with Divided Cap by Rembrandt van Rijn

Rembrandt van Rijn 1606-1669 | Dutch Man with Divided Cap Etching and drypoint on paper First state of three Signed "Rembrandt" (upper left) This exceptional etching was composed by one of the supreme geniuses in the history of art, Rembrandt van Rijn. The subject of this particular impression, an old man wearing a divided fur cap, wears a calm countenance, gazing to the right of the composition. Likely a portrait of a fictional character inspired by Biblical narratives, his long grizzled beard and wrinkled eyes bear testament to the sitter's age, appearing wise and weathered. Created at a critical moment in the prime of his career, the work exhibits Rembrandt’s unparalleled ability to create an expressive portrait with a simple etching needle and a copper plate. Other examples of this etching can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago, among others.  The son of a miller, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn is believ