Griffonnements ou se voit le portrait de Rembrandt
German title:
Studienblatt mit Rembrandts Selbstbildnis, einer Bettlerin mit ihrem Kind, usw.
Dutch title:
Schetsblad met zelfportret, een bedelaar en een vrouw met kind
New Hollstein:
261
Etching. 1648 or 1651.
Size: 111 x 92 mm. Surface: 102 cm2.
Signed with monogram and dated, in the lower right corner: RL 1651
Copper Plate
The copperplate was not part of any of the early sales or collections and is probably not in existence.
Rarity of impressions
In auctions (2000-2025): extremely rare Early: 3 ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿
In collections (New Hollstein – 2013): very rare Early: 33 ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⊙
Catalogue Nowell-Usticke (1967): RRR+, an extremely rare study sheet ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⊙
Related
The signature and date are probably not by Rembrandt, since, after 1632, he did not sign with initials only . For that reason the date was read as 1631 or 1638 by early scholars. However, watermark research has indicated that the date is probably 1648, which would explain the likeliness of the self-portrait to Self-portrait etching by a window (B 22 – NH 240) and of the woman and child to A blind hurdy-gurdu player and family receiving alms (B 118 – NH 243). Both are dated 1648. So, the monogram and date were probably inserted later by another hand.
The plate resembles a study Rembrandt made twenty years earlier (B 363 – NH 115).
Copies
There is a copy in the same direction by Ignace De Claussin, inscribed RL 1638 (112 x 95 mm, WB).
Attributions and reviews
The plate is not by Rembrandt according to Coppier.
States
Most authors list one state only. Later impressions are rather light and show the left eye weaker.
Literature
H 230, BB 38-F, G 337, M 82, Mz 27, RA 978, Cl 360, W 364, Bl 238, Du 358, CD 192, S 144. Rembrandt by himself 1999, p. 64;
