The artwork titled “Saskia with a Child” is a creation of the esteemed artist Rembrandt, dated to the year 1636. This work, which falls within the Baroque art movement, is characterized as a sketch and study. It possesses modest dimensions of 19 by 13 centimeters and is currently housed in the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork captures an intimate moment between a woman and a child. The sketch is executed with a level of spontaneity typical of Rembrandt’s studies, emphasizing emotion and tender interaction over meticulous detail. The figures are portrayed in a close embrace, with the woman holding the child lovingly. Her attire suggests a period garment consistent with 17th-century fashion, which is softly rendered to convey the flow and texture of the fabric. The child is rendered with quick strokes emphasizing the innocence and softness appropriate to the portrayal of youth.
The composition is intimate and the lines are loose, with a dynamic quality that brings life to the drawing. Shadows and highlights are suggested with varying line weights, hinting at Rembrandt’s remarkable skill in capturing the essence of his subjects with minimal yet expressive means. This study may have served as a preparation for a larger composition or as a stand-alone work to explore the tender subject matter—the relationship that can exist between a mother and a child.