Study of an Old Man
probably late 17th century National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
An oil-on-panel study of an elderly man's head, characterized by the dramatic chiaroscuro and expressive impasto application typical of the Dutch Golden Age.
Did you know?
This work is attributed to a follower of Rembrandt, highlighting the immense influence the master had on his contemporaries and pupils. Rembrandt's 'tronies'—character studies of faces meant to display emotion or exoticism rather than portraits of specific individuals—became a highly sought-after genre in 17th-century Holland. Artists frequently emulated his distinctive use of thick paint and deep shadows to capture the psychological depth of their subjects.
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Study of an Old Man
Rembrandt van Rijn, probably late 17th century
