Young Man Leaning on a Stick

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Artist: Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606–1669)
Medium: Pen and brown ink, on laid paper
Size: 14.3 × 8.6 cm (5 5/8 × 3 3/8 in.)
Culture: Dutch
Museum: J. Paul Getty Museum
Rights: CC0 — no rights reserved

Standing in profile and facing to the left, a male figure leans on a stick. He almost certainly represents a beggar who supports himself with a crutch. The vitality of the drawing is seen in the loose, broken lines, which leave blank spaces and create darker accents. The sketchiness of the figure creates a convincing sense of plasticity in a lively manner. The bend of his back and the intense leaning on his crutch fashion a powerful image that is made all the more compelling by the strange open-mouthed laugh that suggests mental instability. This sheet speaks to the artist's ceaseless interest in life's humanity and humility.

From 1625 to 1631 Rembrandt set up his studio in the home of his parents in Leiden, where he worked to gain recognition as a history painter. He produced drawings such as this in preparation for paintings and etchings. Inspired by people he saw on the streets, beggars and vagabonds were popular subjects for Rembrandt. He incorporated them as bystanders in his biblical compositions, where they served as reminders of the Christian duty of giving alms. He also used them as the subjects of at least twenty etchings from around 1630 that were often a compassionate commentary on social inequality.

Text: J. Paul Getty Trust, CC BY 4.0.