Rembrandt’s Wife and Five Other Heads

Description

Rembrandt’s Wife and Five Other Heads brings several studies of the human face together on a single sheet. In this etching of 1636, the title identifies Rembrandt’s wife among a group of six heads, shifting attention between a familiar person and the broader practice of observing faces. The work has the character of an exploration rather than a formal gathering: each head offers another opportunity to consider expression, individuality and the marks that give a face its presence.

Seeing the studies together encourages comparison. The viewer moves from one face to another, attending to the economy of line and the way a small image can suggest a distinct person. The sheet makes the act of looking itself part of the subject, joining portraiture with experimentation.

Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Rembrandt collection.