Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

A fine lifetime impression of this very scarce, early self-portrait of the 7th state, before the posthumous rework of the plate by another hand with the burin. Printed with dark plate tone. Small margins around the platemark.
The etching is one of his early self-portraits and depicts the artist wearing a cap while laughing heartily. Particularly striking is the loose, rapid linework used to render the hair, beard, and clothing. This gives the image a spontaneous, almost sketch-like quality.
The work was created during a period when Rembrandt produced many self-portraits. These served not only as self-portrayals but also as studies of various facial expressions and emotions. Rembrandt experiments with the expression of laughter, which was rarely depicted in the art of that time. Despite its relatively small size, the portrait feels very personal and direct, almost as if the viewer were encountering the artist in a spontaneous moment. – A slight paper thinning in the lower right corner; otherwise in good condition.