Sleeping Puppy, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1640
etching, h 39mm × w 81mm More details
This puppy sleeps curled up in a ball, its snout resting on a hind leg. Dogs feature frequently in Rembrandt’s work, but this is the only time that the animal is the main subject. Its coat has a silvery sheen that merges almost imperceptibly into the shadow around it. Whether it was part of Rembrandt’s household is unknown.
