Woman with the Arrow, 1661

About the Work

The "Woman with the arrow" is Rembrandt's last etching, apart from a small later commissioned work. He probably transformed the drawing into a narrative motif after a nude model holding onto a noose to keep her hand up, but it is difficult to interpret. It most likely depicts Venus showing an arrow to Cupid, whose face is hidden in the darkness behind the bed. The surface of the female body, which is actually less than ideal, is depicted with extreme tactile sensitivity. The extremely differentiated graphic technique that produces this effect can be seen in all its richness in the sheet of the Städel Museum, printed in plate tone.