Rembrandt

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606–1669) never left his native Netherlands, but with his rich body of paintings, drawings, and engravings, he changed the course of Western art. His prolific oeuvre includes religious, historical, and secular scenes, as well as one of the most extraordinary series of portraits and self-portraits in history.

In his works, Rembrandt emphasizes texture, light, and meticulous observation. His subjects, illuminated against deep, dark backgrounds like sudden apparitions in a dark alley, are rendered with absolute physical and psychological fidelity. Whether biblical or mythological figures, powerful patrons or simple fellow citizens, not only facial features are meticulously captured, but also the tangle of their thoughts and feelings, so much so that even ancient stories like the biblical tale of David and Bathsheba reach new levels of human drama. Rembrandt also left us one of the largest series of artist self-portraits, documenting his own face from his youth to the year of his death.

Rembrandt's rise coincided with the heyday of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of prosperity for the Netherlands. The artist was supported by wealthy patrons, but what motivated him most was a profound interest in people. This book examines some of Rembrandt's key paintings, drawings, and etchings to illustrate his techniques, inspirations, and exceptional achievements. From the baroque Belshazzar's Feast to the celebrated Night Watch, we discover a world of dark, intense hues, masterful draftsmanship, and extraordinary sensitivity to the human condition.