The plate was may have been in the sale by Clement de Jonghe (1679, as 9 ouden Tobias), but is now probably not anymore in

Although the posture of the man is quite similar to a print Rembrandt made many years later (B 42) it was not recognized as the same subject until Wilson did so in 1836. It was then still known as Een blinde man op de rug gezien (A blind man seen from behind). It is now generally assumed that the person shown here is Tobit, although the dog, a typical attribute of Tobit in this scene, is missing. From the fact that Rembrandt made so many small alterations himself and then only printed a few copies proves that his etching activities were still very much in an experimental stage.

The long lines of the coat are typical for this period in which he was strongly influenced by the work of Jacques Callot. As can be seen in the many etchings he made of beggars and other ‘fancy’ men.

NH lists three copies, of which two copies in the same direction. Copy A is by W.J.Smith (78 x 65 mm, WB 1). Copy B is by Leopold Flameng in Blanc’s Catalogue 1859-61, p. I 93 (82 x 60 mm, WB 2).
There is one anonymous copy in reverse (copy C), inscribed Rembrandt (85 x 63 mm, WB 3).

The plate was made by a pupil according to Seidlitz and Campbell Dodgson.
Münz thought that another hand worked on all states except the 1st (probably Johannes van Vliet).
White-Boon see another hand from their 4th state.
The plate is not by Rembrandt according to Coppier, Michel and Singer.

NH lists seven states, only the first by Rembrandt. The 3rd and 5th state are ‘new’. All other authors list five states, Nowell-Usticke one trial proof and four states.
In the 1^st state (WB, R438/NU trial proof A) the plate is uncut.
In the 2^nd state (WB, R439/1^st state NU) the plate is cut. There is additional shading on the cloak and the area left to his stick.
In the 3^rd state (NH) there are diagonal lines in the doorway, but not yet completely filled in.
In the 4^th state (3^rd state WB, R440/2^nd state NU) the doorway is fully shaded.
In the 5^th state (NH) there is additional shading between the walking stick and the cloak. More additional lines, including a single one over the left ankle.
In the 6^th state (4^th state WB, R441/3^rd state NU) the shoes are shaded (probably by van Vliet).
In the 7^th state (5^th state WB, R442/4^th state NU) there is cross-hatching in the space seen through the door.

There are unique impressions of the 1st state (in the Rijksmuseum), the 4th state (in the British Museum) and the 6th state (in the Albertina).
There are only two impressions of both the 3rd and the 5th state.

H 74, BB 29-5, G 146, M 180, Mz 171, RA 438-442, Cl 150, W 47, Bl 14, Du 149, CD 283
Hinterding 2008, p. 293ff;