Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

A superb impression of the only state, with the fine details of the distant landscape at the left edge crisp and strong, and the reeds in the foreground printed in a rich, velvety black. In this view of Amsterdam, Rembrandt achieves extraordinary depth despite the very low horizon. The artist places the reeds and other plants growing along the canal and the footpath prominently in the foreground, while the city appears tiny in the distance. In fact, the tallest reed is as tall as the tallest tower in the city, that one of the Oude Kerk. Eric Hinterding describes the recognisable landmarks from left to right: ‘the Haringspakkertoren, the Oude Kerk, the Montelbaanstoren, the warehouses and jetties of the Dutch East India Company and the mill at the Rijzenhoofd bulwark’ (Hinterding, Lugt Collection, no. 165, p. 284). The fact that the panorama is depicted in mirror image could indicate that Rembrandt drew it directly on the plate on the spot. If he had started from a prepared drawing, it seems plausible that he would have transferred the drawing to the plate so that it could be printed the right way round.Narrow margins at the top; trimmed to the platemarks on the other three sides. – Very faint foxing in the sky area at right; corners gently rounded. Verso along the upper edge with a thin strip from an earlier mounting. Otherwise in very good condition.