Rijksmuseum

De rattengifverkoper

Date

1632

Medium

paper

Institution

Rijksmuseum

This rat-catcher dovetails seamlessly with the scores of beggars and tramps portrayed by Rembrandt in his early years. At that time, they were always depicted as individual figures, but here he combines three in a narrative scene. The nature of what the man is selling is clear from the rats accompanying him. Moreover, the revulsion of the owner of the house receiving the merchandise says it all.

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