Circumcision in the Stable by Rembrandt van Rijn

Rembrandt van Rijn
1606-1669 | Dutch

Circumcision in the Stable

Etching on paper
Bartsch 47, first state of II
Signed and dated "Rembrandt f. 1654" (upper left and center left)

This incredibly evocative, original 17th-century etching is by one of the supreme geniuses in the history of art, Rembrandt van Rijn. This particular impression, the first state of two, depicts the circumcision of Christ and exhibits Rembrandt’s amazing ability to create an expressive, atmospheric scene with a simple etching needle and a copper plate. His mastery of printmaking and etching is unrivaled even to this day, earning him an international reputation during his lifetime and placing him among the greatest artists of all time.

Christ's circumcision is briefly recounted in the Gospel of Luke, 2:15-22: "the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem... And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger... And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus." At the time in the Dutch pictorial tradition, Jesus's circumcision most often took place in a temple. Rembrandt, however, depicts this sacred event in the Christ child's life within the humble stable where he was born, underscoring Jesus's humanity. In the composition, Joseph holds Jesus as he rests peacefully with Mary to his right. The family is bathed in holy light, with the surrounding figures in contrasting shadow, showcasing Rembrandt's trademark mastery of dark and light.

The son of a miller, Rembrandt van Rijn is believed to have been born in Leiden on July 15, 1606. He studied first at the Latin School and then was enrolled at the University of Leiden at the age of 14. He soon left to study art—first with a local master, Jacob van Swanenburch, and then, in Amsterdam, with Pieter Lastman, known for his historical paintings. Rembrandt was an exceptionally gifted student and mastered his art in a mere six months. Now 22 years old, he returned to Leiden and was soon so highly regarded that he was able to take students of his own.

Though known today primarily for his paintings, Rembrandt's fame spread outside the Netherlands thanks to his etchings. He made hundreds of etchings over the course of his career from 1626 until 1660, the year he was forced to sell his presses. He created etchings of a number of subjects, including self-portraits, biblical subjects, saints and allegories, and his work was avidly admired and collected, even during his lifetime.

Versions of this etching reside in numerous museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Rijksmuseum. 

Dated 1654

Etching: 3 1/2" high x 5 1/2" wide (8.89 x 13.97 cm)
Frame: 20" high x 16" wide (50.80 x 40.46 x 2.86 cm)

Provenance:
Private collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Private collection, Texas
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Literature:
Bartsch 47
White/Boon 47
New Hollstein's Dutch 274, first state of II