European Art and Old Masters

While peasants are featured in a number Rembrandt’s etchings, the present lot are both the only known pendant prints amongst the artist’s oeuvre and the only known prints to feature etched text. Rembrandt intended these prints to be a pair, and there is a somewhat humorous ‘call’ and ‘reply’ dialogue between the two forlorn peasants, with one calling out, ‘Tis vinnich kout,’ (‘It’s bitter cold’ ), and the other replying, ‘Dats Niet’ (‘That’s nothing’). This is both a rare pair of prints, and has exceptional museum provenance.