Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

Very fine, sharp impressions of the only states. These two narrow, interrelated etchings revisit the theme and style of Rembrandt’s beggar studies from around 1630, but with a freer, more confident hand. Inspired by two small engravings by Hans Sebald Beham from 1542 (Bartsch 188, 189) – where a similar dialogue unfolds between two peasants – Rembrandt transposes the encounter to a sparsely suggested frozen Dutch landscape. The figures, ragged and wandering, are interpreted as contemporary embodiments of Heraclitus and Democritus – the philosophers of sorrow and laughter. Thread margins. – Light foxing. Thinned along the edges, with a few small tears in the margins, professionally closed with transparent paper. Otherwise in good condition.