The Quacksalver, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1635
etching, h 78mm × w 36mm More details
Initially, Rembrandt was fascinated above all by pathetic wretches compelled to beg for alms. Later, he also developed an interest in other colourful city folk, which he usually depicted in the same minuscule format. In these six etchings, he portrayed a quack in outmoded clothing, two Polish soldiers, two street musicians (an organ grinder and a fiddler) and a skater.
