Small grey landscape: a house and trees beside a pool
French title:
Le grand arbre a coté de la maison
German title:
Die Waldsee
Dutch title:
Het kleine grijze landschap
New Hollstein:
181
Etching. Ca. 1640.
Size: 38 x 82 mm. Surface: 31 cm2.
Not signed, not dated. Münz dates this plate in 1643-44. Some lines near the centre of the lower border have been interpreted by some as an ‘R’ (Blanc).
Copper Plate
The copperplate was not in any of the major collections and is probably not in existence.
Rarity of impressions
In auctions (2000-2025): extremely rare Early: 1 ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿
In collections (New Hollstein – 2013): extremely rare Early: 20 ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿
Catalogue Nowell-Usticke (1967): RRRR+, an almost unobtainable rarity ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿
Picture
This very rare etching is certainly one of the least attractive. Which may in itself be a reason why not many copies were printed. A large pond, which covers most of the right part of the scenery, is bordered by a house on the left side and many trees in the back. The only interesting feature is the minute, sharply lit doorway in which a person is standing.
Related
Biörklund sees a similarity to B 57, The rest on the flight, a night piece. Münz sees a similarity with The shepherd and his family (B 220) in the parallel lines used for the shading. He dates this etching, one of the smallest landscapes made by Rembrandt, in the period 1643-44. In that period Rembrandt was strongly influenced by the works of Elsheimer.
Attributions and reviews
The etching is considered as special by Hind, Middleton and Dutuit.
The plate is not by Rembrandt according to Coppier and Singer.
According to Hind there should be no doubt about the attribution; a study in light in a landscape on such a small scale can only be the work of the master himself.
States
All authors list one state only.
Literature
H 175, BB 40-3, G 199, M 303, Mz 153, RA 571, Cl 204, W 204, Bl 310, Du 204, CD 134. Vogelaar 2006, p. 105;
