Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

A superb, atmospheric lifetime impression of the first state, before the extension of Medea’s robe and that of her servant, which was added with drypoint. The sculpted figure of Juno is wearing a cap, which was later replaced by a crown. Rembrandt created illustrations for three books, with Medea being his second. Commissioned by Jan Six for the title page of his tragedy, Medea had been performed in October 1647 at the Amsterdam Stadsschouwburg and published twice (1648 and 1679). However, only the fourth state of the etching was used as the frontispiece for the first edition, while the fifth state appeared in deluxe copies of the second edition. Impressions of the first three states—before the signature, date, monogram, and the verses in the lower margin—are rare. For his depiction, Rembrandt chose the wedding scene, though Six did not include it in his adapted version, likely to encapsulate the tragic climax in a single image. The viewer’s gaze is guided by a spiraling staircase from the wedding couple to Juno, the goddess of marriage, seated in attendance. Medea, Jason’s first wife, appears in the shadows below, holding a dagger, poised to fulfill her vow and murder her children and Jason’s bride. Through this intricate circular composition, Rembrandt vividly conveys the full scope of the tragedy. One of the very few impressions on laid paper: most surviving impressions of the first state were printed on Japan paper. Pen borderline. Thread margins or trimmed on the platemark; top right corner irregular. – The paper shows slight thinning and a small dent along the left edge. Slight horizontal crease visible on the verso. Verso in the upper corners with remnants of previous mounting. Otherwise in very good condition. Very rare in this early state!