The artwork titled “A Seated Woman, Naked to the Waist” by the renowned Baroque artist Rembrandt dates back to around 1637. It is a sketch and study measuring 20 by 15 cm, possibly serving as a preliminary work for a larger composition. This piece is housed at the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
In the sketch, the figure of a woman is rendered with delicate lines and soft shading, capturing the play of light and shadow on her skin and the texture of her clothing. She is depicted from the side, seated, and appears to be lost in thought or possibly posing for the artist. Her torso is bare, which contributes to the study of human anatomy—a common practice in art of the period. Her garment drapes around her lower body, cinching at the waist, emphasizing the natural curves and folds of the fabric. The drawing is executed with a sense of immediacy and fluidity that is characteristic of Rembrandt’s sketches, reflecting a moment captured in time.
