Sheet of Studies: Self-Portrait, a Beggar Couple, Heads of an Old Man and Woman

Rembrandt’s graphic studies are fascinating by their spontaneity, a sketch-like execution of the fig-ures rendered haphazardly on different parts of the plate. He created eight in total. The earliest among these includes an impressive self-portrait and figures of beggars drawn from different sides, with the artist rotating the plate each time around. Sketches in etching are by no means common, but drawn sketches were highly prized among art connoisseurs in the 17th century Netherlands, and it seems Rembrandt discovered a similar potential in the present medium.