The Good Samaritan. (1633)

Copy after Rembrandt (1606–1669)

19th century (?). Etching

The 17th-century Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenz van Rijn is known in art history as an extremely versatile, technically experimental and uncompromising creator. His works have influenced innumerable artists throughout the centuries. Unlike his colleagues, Rembrandt practised both painting and printmaking with equal devotion. He regarded graphic art as an independent art form; he used it as a means to reproduce his paintings on only a few occasions. An example of the latter is the etching “The Good Samaritan” from 1633. Typically of Rembrandt, the etching was not an exact copy of the painting: he added several compositional details to the print.
The etching at the Kadriorg Art Museum is, however, not an original work by Rembrandt, i.e. not an impression of the original printing plate, but a copy made after the etching. The earliest copy of “The Good Samaritan” appeared during Rembrandt’s lifetime. The original etching plate by Rembrandt has the inscription “Rembrandt inventor et feecit 1633”, which means that the idea for the etching as well as the execution were Rembrandt’s, whereas the text added to the copy – “Rembrandt in” – suggests that Rembrandt was only the author of the composition.