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Home > Collection > Graphical work > Faces ('Tronies')
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Faces

Early in his career Rembrandt etched more than thirty studies of men and women. They were not meant to be portraits—they were a way for Rembrandt to practise capturing facial expressions. These heads of striking types are known as ‘tronies’. Most of the tronies were made between 1630 and 1640. Rembrandt’s parents often acted as his models. With their wrinkled and lived-in faces they made superb subjects. Four Oriental heads of 1635 make up a separate group in this category. They are based on prints by Jan Lievens. Rembrandt wanted to improve on his rival’s work, as the inscription on this print reveals.



Old man shading his eyes with his hand
1639
Etching and drypoint, only state (B 259)
 


Old man looking down
1631
Etching, state II (B 260)
 


The first 'oriental' head
1635
Etching and drypoint, state II (B 286)


The second 'oriental' head
1635
Etching, only state (B 287)
 


Bald-headed man in profile (Rembrandt's father?)
1630
Etching, state II (B 292)
 


Bearded old man, with white sleeve
1631
Etching, only state (B 291)


Rembrandt's mother (?) in a cloth headdress
1633
Etching, state II (B 351)
 


Rembrandt's mother (?), full face
1628
Etching, state II (B 352)
 


Bust of Rembrandt's mother (?)
1628
Etching, drypoint, state II (B 354)