The Adoration of the Shepherds, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1657
etching, engraving and drypoint with plate tone, printed on Japanese paper, h 149mm × w 193mm More details
A copper plate becomes worn with every impression pulled from it, which affects the subsequent impressions. In this sixth state some sections are lighter, such as the shepherds’ faces. New lines can be seen behind Mary, and elsewhere, which Rembrandt incised to camouflage worn passages. The fact that he printed copies of this state on costly Japanese paper indicates that they were meant for sale.
