The copperplate was not part of any of the major, early collections and is probably not in existence.

The head on the right side has traditionally been regarded as a self-portrait, although only a small part of the face is visible, hardly enough for a proper identification. This part of the plate is clearly worked out in more detail than the tree and the man on the left side. The head was probably etched first. It is unclear why Rembrandt abandoned it, maybe because of the foul biting, left of the cap.

The plate was called Het Boompje met den halven kop (the tree with the half head) in the sales catalogue of De Burgy in 1755.

The part of the head seems to have a likeness to a painted self-portrait of 1645 (Corpus IV, nr 5, now in the Staatliche Kunsthalle in Karlsruhe).

There is a copy in the same direction by Léopold Flameng, included in the catalogue of Blanc 1859-61, II p. 363 (66 x 72 mm).

The etching is considered as special by De Claussin and Blanc.
The plate was made by a pupil according to Coppier.
The plate is not by Rembrandt according to Michel and Singer.

All authors list one state only.

H 155, BB 42-1, G 339, M 154, Mz 23, RA 980, Cl 362, W 366, Bl 349, Du 360, CD 119
Hinterding 2008, p. 616-617;