Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

A very fine lifetime impression of the second state; before the right shoulder of the man in the fur cap is burnished away in order to show more of Christ's right leg behind the lance. Printing without any traces of wear and with strong burr in the carving lines. The dramatic events are concentrated in the person of the prefect Pontius Pilate, who has risen from his throne to ward off the high priests pressing him with a conciliatory gesture. One of them has snatched the judicial rod from Pilate, thereby assuming responsibility for the verdict, while Pilate expresses his opposition to the death sentence with his dismissive hand gesture. Rembrandt was the first to assess the question of guilt in Christ's death in this way; he first presented it in a mirror-image oil grisaille (National Gallery, London), which he altered only slightly for the graphic translation in the details. In addition to his work as an independent painter and engraver, Rembrandt also engaged in reproductive graphic art in the early 1630s. His role model was Rubens, who had his paintings reproduced in Antwerp by professional engravers in order to distribute them more widely. Trimmed on the plate marks, within in places on the top and sides; the white strip with the signature at the bottom trimmed. Verso slightly time-stained and with isolated brown spots. Horizontal, smoothed crease marks. A restored tear on the upper edge. An approx. 5 mm long tear on the lower edge. Small paper defect at the lower right corner. Two careful restorations in the centre of the right edge. Water stain on the verso at the lower edge, not visible on the recto. Verso with remnants and traces of a former mounting. Otherwise in good condition. Very rare in this early state!