Title
The rat catcher
1632
Artist
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Details
- Other Titles
- The rat killer
The rat poison seller - Date
- 1632
- Media category
- Materials used
- etching
- Edition
- iii of 3 states
- Dimensions
- 14.0 x 12.5 cm platemark; 14.1 x 12.6 cm sheet
- Signature & date
Signed and dated l.r., [incised plate] "RHL [artist's monogram] 1632".
- Credit
- Purchased 1938
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 6739
- Copyright
- Artist information
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Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn
Works in the collection
- Share
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About
This early etching is the first fully fledged genre scene in Rembrandt's work. The rat catcher carries a pole surmounted by a cage containing live rats, with a few poisoned specimens dangling below. His young assistant carries a box presumably containing rat poison or other wares. It is unclear whether the old man in the doorway is rejecting the proffered goods or turning away in disgust at the two pedlars, with their unsavoury merchandise and advertisements, after the transaction has taken place.
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Exhibition history
Shown in 4 exhibitions
Etchings by Rembrandt, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1948–1948
Everyday Life, prints, drawings and watercolours from the collections of Australian and European Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 01 Oct 1994–27 Nov 1994
Everyday Life, prints, drawings and watercolours from the collections of Australian and European Art, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, , 04 Mar 1995–01 Apr 1995
Everyday Life, prints, drawings and watercolours from the collections of Australian and European Art, Griffith Regional Art Gallery, , 03 May 1995–03 Jun 1995
Everyday Life, prints, drawings and watercolours from the collections of Australian and European Art, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Australia, 22 Jun 1995–30 Jul 1995
Old Europe: Prints & drawings from the collection 1500-1800, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 03 Jun 2006–06 Aug 2006
European prints and drawings 1500-1900, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 30 Aug 2014–02 Nov 2014
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Bibliography
Referenced in 2 publications
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Hendrik Kolenberg, Everyday life: prints drawings and watercolours from the collections of Australian and European art, Sydney, 1994. cat.no: 104
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National Art Gallery of New South Wales, Etchings by Rembrandt, Sydney, 1948. cat.no. 4, as 'The Rat Killer'
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