The so-called "Negress" Lying Down is one of Rembrandt's most beautiful and understated works. The dark, rich tones that engulf the figure inspired the title given to the print in the eighteenth century. Rembrandt made this print late in his career, by which time he had begun to create remarkable painterly effects never before seen in printmaking, with combinations of velvety drypoint lines, films of ink left on the printing plate, and variously colored papers. This impression was printed on golden-toned Japanese paper, which lends an underlying warmth to the dark image.

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