Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

A fine, dark lifetime impression, without wear, with burr on the crucifix and the curtain at the right. Trimmed on or just inside the platemarks on three sides; without the white strip with signature and date at the bottom.
Rembrandt’s depiction of Saint Jerome, pondering his Latin translation of the Bible at his desk, reflects a strong experimental spirit. The nearly completely darkened room is illuminated only by a soft stream of light coming through a window. The etching is almost entirely covered in dense cross-hatching; the image emerges solely through finely graded variations of lines that create different shades of black and dark gray.
Just as the eye gradually adjusts to the darkness, this scene, too, reveals itself only little by little: the spiral staircase, the skull and cardinal’s hat, and finally the lion crouching beneath the table slowly emerge from the darkness. The unusual perspective of the staircase viewed from below alone attests to Rembrandt’s technical mastery and artistic self-confidence. Yet the work goes beyond mere virtuosity. Rembrandt succeeds in creating a dense, contemplative atmosphere that makes the viewer a silent witness to a scholar lost in thought. At the same time, the etching demonstrates his willingness to take artistic risks - even beyond commercial considerations. – Scattered brown spots; faint brown brushstroke on the saint's cloak. A horizontal cut along the right upper edge. The upper right and the lower left corner restored. Verso with traces and remnants of a former mount; otherwise in good condition.