B 358

Woman with a high headdress wrapped around the chin

French title:

Tête de femme agée
German title:

Alte Frau mit um das Kinn geschlungenem Kopftuch
Dutch title:

Borstbeeld van een oude vrouw met een hoofddoek
New Hollstein:

58
Rembrandt in Black & White:

171

Etching. Ca. 1630. Size: 71 x 72 mm, in the 2nd state 71 x 58 mm. Surface: 51, in the 2nd state 41 cm2.
Not signed, not dated.

NH 58 – 2nd state of II

Zoom

Copper Plate

The plate was not part of any of the early collections or sales and is probably not in existence.

Rarity of impressions

In auctions (2000-2025): rare Early: 13 ⦿⦿⦿⦿⊙⊙
In collections (New Hollstein – 2013): very rare Early: 40 ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⊙
Catalogue Nowell-Usticke (1967): RR+, a rare portrait, rejected by some ⦿⦿⦿⦿⊙⊙

Subject/Sitter

A most remarkable portrait, not least because the plate is only partially etched. Hinterding has suggested that Rembrandt may have used a coating in the ‘untouched’ areas, after the drawing was completed. The identity of the woman is not known, it is certainly not Rembrandts’ mother. Six has suggested that it is the same woman as in Bust of an old woman in a fur-trimmed coat (B355). The large number of copies proofs that the plate must have been popular in early years.

Copies

NH lists seven copies, all in reverse. Copy A is anonymous (70 x 59 mm, WB 4, not traced by NHD). Copies B and C are also anonymous (resp, 61 x 47 mm and 55 x 49 mm, possibly WB 3). Copy D is signed by Johann Colizzi (81 x 52 mm). Copy E is by Jean Saveur LeGros signed L.G.1789 and inscribed Rembrandt (88 x 64 mm). Copy F is signed by Costantino Cumano, inscribed Rt.inv (80 x 64 mm, WB 2). Copy G is attributed to Ignace Joseph De Claussin (115 x 85 mm, WB 1).

Attributions and reviews

Many authors, like Seidlitz, Coppier, Michel, Campbell Dodgson and Singer, have rejected this etching, others have doubts (Hind, White-Boon). Attributions include Gerard Dou (Münz) and Jan Lievens (Holmes, Hind and Biörklund).

States

Most authors list two states, Nowell-Usticke one trial proof and one state.
The 1st state (R938/NU trial state A) is the larger plate.
In the 2nd state (R939/NU 1st state) the plate is reduced on the right side from 72 to 58 mm. Fine lines of shading are added to the shaded side of the face. Early impressions have rough plate edges.

Prints and collections

There are only two impressions of the 1st state (NU trial proof A) known, in the Rijksmuseum and in the British Museum.

Literature

H 83, BB Rej 75, G 325, M 68, Mz 318, RA 938-939, Cl 348, W 352, Bl 243, Du 346, CD 274, S 139.
Hinterding 2008, p. 599-601; Baas 2015 , p. 162-163;

Rembrandt in Black & White: 171

NH/WB: 2nd and final state
A fine, contemporary impression.
Sheet 69 x 59/57 mm, no margins, cut at or slightly inside the platemark at left and right (-3%).
Watermark: part of an unidentified mark. Horizontal chain lines at approx. 25 mm.

Provenance

With Colnaghi London, their inventory number (26401) verso.

Exhibitions

Rembrandt in Zwart-Wit, Jan ten Horne Museum – Weert, Stadsmuseum Harderwijk, (November 2014-August 2015);
Rembrandt in Black & White, Schloß Britz (Berlin), Bozar Expo (Brussels), Chateau des Penthes (Geneva), November 2015-September 2016;