The Pancake Woman, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1635
pen and brown ink; framing lines in brown ink over black chalk, h 108mm × w 144mm Catalogue entry
Rembrandt recorded this scene, observed on the street, with such conviction that you can put yourself in the shoes of each of the individuals. You sympathize with the eager boy digging deep for a coin, as well as the weary, hunched over pancake woman who has already worked a full day. The toddler, with his mouth full of pancake, is priceless.
