Rare Etchings by Rembrandt

05 January 2026
by Tamera Lenz Muente, Curator
Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669), A Scholar in His Study (“Faust”) (detail), 1652, etching and drypoint, 8 1/4 x 6 5/16 in. Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam

The innovation, creativity, and virtuosity of Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669) is evident not only in his paintings but also in the more than 300 etchings he made during his career. The Taft Museum of Art will be one of just four museums to present Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White—Prints from the Rembrandt House Museum. This marks the first time in more than 25 years that the Rembrandt 
House Museum—the artist’s former home in Amsterdam—is sharing an exhibition of these rare and exquisite prints from its renowned collection with museums outside the Netherlands.

This is an exciting opportunity to showcase the pioneering techniques of one of the world’s most famous artists. One of the Taft’s most significant and beloved paintings is Rembrandt’s Portrait of a Man Rising from His Chair, so it’s wonderful to be able to further highlight his artistic achievements. Rembrandt’s etchings are among his greatest accomplishments. Their remarkable intimacy, awe-inspiring draftsmanship, and emotional impact make them still very relevant today.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669), Sleeping Puppy (detail), about 1640, etching and drypoint, 1 9/16 x 3 3/16 in. Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam

At a time when most saw etching primarily as a vehicle to reproduce famous works of art, Rembrandt utilized the medium to create groundbreaking compositions. Filled with delicate lines and velvety shadows, his etchings often achieve the psychological intensity of his oil paintings. Nearly 50 works in Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White—Prints from the Rembrandt House Museum present the depth and breadth of Rembrandt’s etching subjects, including portraits, self-portraits, scenes from daily life, landscapes, narrative scenes, and still lifes. A select group of etchings by Rembrandt’s contemporaries, as well as later admirers including James McNeill Whistler and Pablo Picasso, demonstrate the Dutch master’s enduring influence.

Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669), The Return of the Prodigal Son, 1636, etching, 6 1/8 x 5 3/8 in. Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam
“We are delighted to bring Rembrandt‘s fascinating prints to audiences outside of the Netherlands. With this exhibition, we hope to demonstrate that each of Rembrandt‘s prints is a work of art in its own right. If you take the time to look at them closely, a whole world opens up to you: a world in black and white, but with enormous visual richness.”
Epco Runia
Head of Collections at the Rembrandt House Museum and Exhibition Curator

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