Who created "The Strolling Musicians"?

The Strolling Musicians was created by Rembrandt van Rijn in c. 1635.

When was "The Strolling Musicians" created?

This artwork was created c. 1635.

What medium is "The Strolling Musicians"?

The Strolling Musicians is etching.

Is "The Strolling Musicians" in the public domain?

Yes, The Strolling Musicians is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

The Strolling Musicians

Rembrandt van Rijn

c. 1635

Medium

etching

Classification

Department

CG-E

Museum

National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Credit

Rosenwald Collection

Accession Number

1943.3.7241

Art Historical Context

In the heart of the Dutch Golden Age, Rembrandt vanijn created *The Strolling Musicians around 1635, a masterful etching that captures the lively spirit of itinerant performers wandering Europe's streets. Rembrandt, a Baroque genius known for his dramatic use of light and shadow (chiaroscuro), often turned his gaze to everyday folk—beggars, musicians, and rogues—infusing them with profound humanity and caricature-like expressiveness. This print depicts a trio of ragged figures with instruments, their animated poses evoking the vibrant, precarious life of street entertainers in 17th-century Hol...

About the Artist

Rembrandt van Rijn · 1606–1669

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606–1669) stands as one of the greatest visual artists in the history of Western art and the most important Dutch painter of the 17th century. Born in Leiden to a prosperous miller's family, Rembrandt transformed painting through his revolutionary use of light and shadow, his psychological depth in portraiture, and his elevation of etching to a fine art. His approx...

The Strolling Musicians

Send Feedback