Man at Desk, Wearing Cross and Chain

Description

Man at Desk Wearing Cross and Chain combines the intimacy of a portrait with the suggestions of a working setting. In Rembrandt’s etching and drypoint of 1641, the seated figure is distinguished by the cross and chain he wears. These details give the image a particular character, inviting the viewer to consider how dress and surroundings contribute to our sense of a person.

The desk places the figure within an everyday space, while the ornaments introduce another point of interest. Together, they make the portrait more than a study of a face: it becomes an encounter with an individual presented through the things around and upon him. Man at Desk Wearing Cross and Chain rewards an unhurried look, finding its appeal in the relationship between human presence, distinctive appearance and the quiet setting of a seated portrait.