Christ Seated Disputing with the Doctors

Rembrandt Van Rijn
Christ Seated Disputing with the Doctors
etching
1654

An original Rembrandt Van Rijn etching.

1654

Original etching printed in black ink on laid paper.

Signed and dated in the plate upper left Rembrandt f. 1654.

A superb 17th century/lifetime impression of Bartsch and New Hollstein’s only state, Usticke’s first state of two, printed prior to the plate corners being rounded.

When Jesus was twelve years old his parents took him to Jerusalem on their annual Passover pilgrimage. After the holiday he remained behind without their knowing it. They thought he must have returned home with friends or relatives, but when they reached Nazareth and didn’t find him there they rushed back to Jerusalem to look for him. “And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou dealt us this? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them, and came to Nazareth” (Luke: 2:41-52).
The doctors listen to Christ in amazement. The balustrade with lookers-on is a recurring motif in Rembrandt’s work; it makes its first appearance in the “Hundred Guilder Print.”