Category Rembrandt

A Complete Analysis of “The Artist’s Father” by Rembrandt

Brown ink-and-wash drawing of an elderly bearded man in a wrapped cap, seated with lowered gaze; soft washes form an oval of light around the head, with Rembrandt’s inscription “Harman Gerrits.” and signature below on the paper.

Rembrandt’s 1630 portrait of his father, Harmen Gerritsz., uses brown ink and wash, an arched format, and a tender inscription to create an intimate study of age and inward light. The drawing’s restraint, luminous modeling, and psychological depth turn a quiet moment into a lasting monument.