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The small lion hunt with two lions
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Rembrandt van Rijn etched this dramatic hunting scene around 1629-1630, depicting men battling two lions in violent encounter. He captured the chaos and excitement through stark contrasts of light and dark. The small print measures just inches across yet conveys monumental drama.
Rembrandt created related versions including "The Small Lion Hunt (with One Lion)." These early etchings demonstrate his interest in action and violence, themes he explored throughout his career. Major collections including the Metropolitan Museum, Rijksmuseum, National Gallery of Art, and Yale University Art Gallery hold impressions. A version is at the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam.
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About The small lion hunt with two lions
Rembrandt made this etching around 1629-1630 early in his career. He created both one-lion and two-lion versions, exploring themes of violent encounters between humans and animals.
Rembrandt intensified the drama through stark contrasts of light and dark. Despite the small scale, the composition conveys chaos and excitement as men battle the fierce lions in close combat.
Major collections hold impressions: the Metropolitan Museum, National Gallery of Art, Rijksmuseum, Yale University Art Gallery, Norton Simon Museum, and Morgan Library all have examples of this Baroque print.
Etching allowed Rembrandt to create multiple impressions from a single copper plate. He scratched the design into a wax-covered plate, then used acid to bite the lines into the metal.
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