This image seems to have begun as a straightforward study of a willow tree, battered by violent weather and disfigured by harvesters taking its branches to weave baskets. As Rembrandt's imagination took hold, the wizened tree became both haven and metaphor for the aged saint who remains productive at his ramshackle desk despite life's trials. With a few strokes of his etching needle, Rembrandt moved the scene from Holland's flat terrain to a valley with a mountain waterfall.This is a major addition to the MIA's collection of Rembrandt etchings. The copper plate used to print this image deteriorated quickly, but this impression was printed while the plate was still fresh. This is the finest example to have appeared on the market in over 50 years.