The plate was not part of any of the early sales or collections and is almost certainly not in existence anymore.

A travelling salesman shows a spectacle in his left hand. The long item dangling at his right hip is probably a leather sheet, used to sharpen knifes. Rembrandt made several etchings of beggars in the years 1629-1630. After four years he returns to the subject, but this time with a somewhat larger, more ‘mature’ versions.

The French name of the print Charlatan was first used by Gersaint in 1751. In 1755 it appeared in the De Burgy sale under the name Het kraamertje (the salesman).

Joris van Vliet, a close colleague of Rembrandt, made two etchings of a similar nature in 1632 (Hollstein 79 and 92).

The early popularity of this print is shown by the eleven copies listed in NH, many in multiple states. Five of these are in the same direction. Copy C is by James Hazard, inscribed Rembrandt f 1635, (75 x 35 mm, WB 3). Copies F and G are anonymous (resp. 214 x272 mm and 93x 61 mm, WB 8). Copy I is by Leopold Flameng in Blanc’s catalogue (71 x 37 mm, WB 1). Copy J is probably by Seymour Haden in the Gazette des Beaux Arts, 1880 L’oevre gravé de Rembrandt (58 x 31 mm, WB 2).
There are six copies in reverse. Copy A is by John Holland, signed and dated JH f 1756 (129 x 97 mm).
Copy B is by François Vivares, signed F.V.Fecit (his nr 1, two states, 78 x 50 mm, WB 6). It is included in 200 Etchings and in the collection Rembrandt in Black & White, nr 330. Copy D is anonymous (94 x 65 mm).
Copy E is signed by Francesco Novelli (his nr 34, two states, 87 x 66 mm, WB 4). Copy H is by William Henry Hunt, dated 1831 (102 x 80 mm, WB 7). Copy K is by Jacques Laure (155 x 105 mm).
There seems to be a copy by Jan van Vliet, signed with his monogram. It is not listed in NH.

The etching is considered as special by Bartsch, Coppier and Wilson.

All authors list one state only.

H 139, BB 35-G, G 127, M 117, Mz 128, RA 375, Cl 130, W 132, Bl 92, Du 129, CD 102
Hinterding 2008, p. 267-268;

NH/WB: only state
A very good impression of the only state.
Sheet 81 x 39 mm, thread margins of appr. 1 mm all around (+ 13%).
No watermark. One vertical chain line visible, in the middle of the sheet.

Rembrandt, de fotograaf, Westfries Museum (Hoorn), June 2024 – January 2025;