Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) (Dutch, Leiden 1606–1669 Amsterdam), Saint Francis beneath a Tree, Praying, 1657. Drypoint and etching on Indian paper; second state of two; plate: 7 1/8 x 9 5/8 in. (18.1 x 24.5 cm). Gift of Felix M. Warburg and his family, 1941. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 17.3.64 © 2000–2016 The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Rembrandt worked on this print in two campaigns in the same year. He began the print in drypoint, delineating only the tree, the saint, the crucifix, and the monk in the background on the right. He even signed the print at that point—his signature is still visible underneath the final larger and darker signature. The second state, shown here, is more finished, with details such as the tower in the background, foliage in the lower left, and the area between Saint Francis and the tree trunk added in etching. Rembrandt played with degrees of finish—while the saint's features are finely detailed, the figure of the second monk on the right is merely suggested with a series of staccato outlines. 

This work is exhibited in the "Unfinished: Thoughts Left Invisible" exhibition, on view through September 4th, 2016. #MetBreuer