The copperplate was in the sale by Pieter de Haan (1767, lot 57) and was sold via Fouquet to Claude-Henri Watelet (1718-1786). It then became part of the set of plates subsequently owned by Pierre-François Basan (1723-1797), Henri-Louis Basan (his nr 1433), Auguste Jean (ca 1809), Veuve Jean, Auguste and Michel Bernard (1846), Alvin-Beaumont (1906) and Robert Lee Humber (1937). It was sold at the Artemis sale in London (1993) to Dr H. Berger (Beverly Hills). The plate was used to produce approx. 2500 prints as the Millennium Impressions in 1998. In 2003 it was sold, together with seven other plates, to Park West Galleries in Southfield, Michigan. They actively marketed impressions of this plate and probably printed many more. For more details see the separate chapter on the Millennium Impressions.

Based on the type of farmhouse shown in this print, Lugt concluded that it was probably located near the town of Diemen, southeast of Amsterdam.

As he has done in several other etchings made in this period, Rembrandt included a ‘foreign’ element in an otherwise typical Dutch surrounding, in this case a hill. He may have been inspired by prints by Goltzius, Bruegel and Hercules Seghers.

NH lists five copies, of which one in the same direction: Copy D by Richard Byron, in which the cow is replaced by a horse (105 x 130 mm, WB 1).
There are four copies in reverse. Copy A is by John Campbell (1754, 99 x 126 mm, WB 5). Copy B is by Claude-Henri Watelet, signed and included in his Rymbranesque ou Essais de la Gravure (1758, 110 x 150 mm, WB 3). Copy C is by John Smith of Chichester (102 x 128 mm, WB 4). Copy E is by Costantino Cumano (95 x 127 mm, WB 2).

The etching is considered as special by Bartsch and De Claussin.

NH lists five states, only the first two by Rembrandt. Most other authors list two states, Biörklund three of which two contemporary, Nowell-Usticke six. From his 3rd state there are later impressions by Watelet, P.Basan, Basan, Jean, Bernard and Beaumont.
In the 1st state (NH, WB, R629, NU) the ground to the sides of the cow is without shading.
In the 2nd state (NH, WB final, R630, NU) shading is added to the ground, including two small white areas right of the highlight at the left side of the building.
In the 3rd state (NH, BB, NU Watelet, P.Basan) the triangular upper part of the cottage is altered, the four verticals are replaced (probably by Watelet, who added his initials Wa.. in the lower left corner○). There is a lot of retouching and fine drypoint work added. Several blackzspots appear in the upper left part of the print. In later impressions by Basan the distant landscape becomes weak.
In the 4th state (NH, NU H.L. Basan, Jean) the distant landscape is re-outlined in drypoint. There is drypoint shading on the small right hand tree, directly above the cow○. New horizontal cross hatching in the wall of the shed at left○.
In the 5th state (NH, NU Bernard) the entire plate is rebitten. New cross-hatching is added to the wall of the farm, between the two trees.
In the 6th state (NU Bernard, Beaumont) there is further work on the roof and in other places. There is an inverted curve about 7 mm above the extreme right hand group of branches over the roof.

Of the 1st state there are at least ten impressions of which at least four on Japanese paper.Of the 2nd state there are impressions on Japanese paper in the Kupferstichkabinett in Berlin, in the Bibliothèque Nationale and in the Dutuit Collection in Paris and an impression on yellowish oatmeal paper in the Bibliothèque Nationale.
At least seven editions of this state can be recognized, one from around 1650 and one from around 1665, but most others are printed much later (Hinterding).
Nowell-Usticke considers the impressions in the Recueil de Basan to be good. They are unchanged in the 1st edition and reworked in later editions.

In the 2nd state: Arms of Amsterdam with cm IFD’; Foolscap with five-pointed collar (2 ed., c. 1650); Posthorn; Strasbourg lily (3 ed.) and various later ones. A total of eight editions.

H 240, BB 50-1, G 228, M 318, Mz 164, RA 629-632, Cl 234, W 234, Bl 337, Du 234, CD 196
Hinterding 2008, p. 448-450;

NH: 2nd state of V/WB: 2nd state of III
A good, sharp impression. The vertical lines in the triangle of the house still unaltered, indicating the 2nd state (NH).
Sheet: 107/108 x 134 mm, narrow margins of 2 to 3 mm all around (+8%).
Watermark: The lower part of the Strasbourg Bend with the letters WR (Ash/Fletcher 35). Horizontal chain lines at approx.. 25 mm.

Rembrandt in Black & White, Chateau des Penthes – Geneva (June-October 2016);
Rembrandt: Paysages, Fonds Glenat (Couvent Ste.Cecile – Grenoble), February – June 2023;