Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

Rembrandt took the female nude as a subject early on in his career, but it was not until 1646 that he etched three studies of male nudes. Two were of single figures, whereas the present composition shows two men - in fact the same model twice. For many years the relationship between the scene in the background of this print and the models in the foreground went unnoticed. However, in the 17th century teaching a child to walk was a common metaphor for learning or practising in general. Such a backdrop, behind two studies from life, clearly must be read as an exhortation to young artists that they can only master their art by constant practice.