Rembrandt - Master of the Dutch Golden Age
Rembrandt (van Rijn) stands at the apex of the Dutch Golden Age - late Renaissance / into the 1600's - as a master of painting, etching and drawings.
The most stunningly beautiful aspect of his works - whatever their particular modality and element of illustration - is his use of chiaroscuro, the theatrical employment of light and shadow. (Caravaggio had established the technique in the late 16th century). In all aspects of his creative expressions - self-portraits throughout much of his life, his many commissioned portraits, biblical and other life scenes and landscapes - Rembrandt's magical use of soft, clear light propels the totality of his visual genius into a most special, intriguing dimension.
Despite great upheavals in his personal life and financial circumstances, Rembrandt remained steadfast in his dedication to - and execution of - magnificent art.
His finest paintings include : "The Night Watch" - "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicholaes Tulp" - "The Syndics of the Clothmakers Guild" - "The Landscape with Good Samaritan" - "Man in a Golden Helmet" and "The Philosopher in Meditation".
Rembrandt's etchings and drawings cover many self-portraits, landscapes and biblical scenes, including : "Virgin and Child with a Cat" - "Suzannah and the Elders" - "The Hundred Guilder Print" ( a biblical scene/title alluding to price paid) - "The Flight into Egypt:Crossing a Brook" - "View of Amsterdam from the Northwest" and "The Windmill".
Rembrandt's house in Amsterdam - now the Rembrandt House Museum - is a marvelous monument to his expansive oeuvre, and a place that provides great opportunity for people who have seen - and loved - his works all over the world to come together in an even more full appreciation of the roots of his sensitivity and genius.