Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

An exceptionally fine lifetime impression of the first state, showing the same watermark like the impressions in the British Museum and the Rijksprentenkabinet with rich relief in the shadowed areas, fine vertical scratches in the white rectangle on the left side and inky plate edges. Printed with a soft, atmospheric platetone. Still with the blank spots along the upper margin and lower margin to the right of the left knee of the sitting man, which are later shaded out with drypoint or burin. This sheet is among Rembrandt’s rare depictions of sports and leisure, illustrating a game of kolf, traditionally played on narrow lanes and considered a historical predecessor to modern golf. Thread margins. – Verso along the upper edge with a thin paper strip from an earlier mounting. Otherwise in very good condition.