The Beugelen Player (“Het Klosbaantje”)

This energetic etching depicts a resting man and a beugelen (ringball) player in the background. Beugelen was a popular pastime in inns and still enjoys a following in the Netherlands and Belgium today. The game has the player use a special spade to hit his ball through a hoop and prevent the opponent from achieving the same. Featuring brisk and expressive lineation done mostly in parallel hatching, the work is typical of Rembrandt’s late period and appears very “modern” to today’s be-holder.