Rembrandt van Rijn 16061669 Northern Baroque

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Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669)Northern Baroque
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REMBRANDT

• The son of a prosperous miller, he eventually
  convinced his dad to support his painting instead
  of going to a professional school.
• He trained with several artists in Leiden, then
  moved to Amsterdam, the largest Dutch city, in
  1632.
• He painted this picture of himself as a young
  man. Do you notice how much is in shadow? Are
  there sharp outlines or soft fades into the
  background? Do you like that he looks right at
  you?

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Early Career

• He was immediately successful in getting clients,
  creating portraits, landscapes and prints.
• In 1634 he married Saskia. They had 4 children,
  three of whom died in childhood. Saskia died in
  1642.
• Rembrandt often used himself and his family as
  models in his work.
• This picture is of Saskia. Does she look
  wealthy? How does the light highlight some parts
  of the painting, while others fade?

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Northern Baroque

• Rembrandt adopted the chiarascurro
  (cheer-a-skur-o) technique used by Caravaggio.
• Chiarascurro is the art term for the contrast
  between light and shadow.
• In his use of shading, Rembrandt attempted to
  reveal the character of his subjects. His
  canvasses glow with empathy and insights.
• This is another self-portrait, though its a
  quick pen and ink drawing.
• How does he show shading when hes just using
  black ink?

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Mature paintings

• After the death of his wife, his brushwork became
  looser and the lighting took center stage.
• In this self portrait from the year of his death,
  the realistic face shows the cares of his later
  years.
• He went bankrupt in his later years, spending
  beyond his means.
• In this self-portrait, can you see a person who
  has suffered some in life? Where does the light
  force the eye to look? Notice how the hands are
  blurry.

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Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp

• At this time, only corpses of executed criminals
  could be used for dissection, so when an
  opportunity arose, doctors and important citizens
  attended the event.
• Hired to paint such a group by the doctors
  guild, Rembrandt arranged the group diagonally,
  with the body dramatically cutting through the
  space.
• Where does the light make your eye go? Notice
  how each of the viewers are staring intently,
  with individual expressions on their faces.

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Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp

• The group gazes at different points--the doctor,
  the body, internally.
• The light draws the eye to the face of the body,
• The doctor is demonstrating how the tendon in the
  wrist works to the group.
• Do you like this picture? Why or why not?

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The Night Watch (1642)

• An enormous canvas (12 x 15), shows the a
  militia company gathering for a parade.
• A recent cleaning has shown the bright colors and
  strong shadows of the original work.
• Although each man portrayed paid equally for the
  commission, some are in shadow while others
  overlap.
• Notice the diagonal lines draw the eye to the lit
  areas of the canvass. They are wearing the
  normal fashions of the day. Does this feel like
  a real crowd? Do you feel a sense of movement?
  Do you like this picture? Why?

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The Night Watch

• From no clear source, the light falls on the man
  in yellow and the children behind. The rich
  textures of the fabrics glow in the light.
• The work was cut down from its original size to
  fit the wall of the guilds main room.
• The light and composition are considered a
  highpoint of the Baroque style.
• Many Baroque works are notable for their sense of
  movement. How does Rembrandt make this scene
  move?

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Return of the Prodigal Son

• As he aged, Rembrandt turned more to religious
  topics and away from the physical details. The
  quiet, powerful insights into the psychological
  make-up of his subjects vibrate off the canvas in
  these works.
• As his colors darken and his brushwork loosens,
  the underlying feel of the work takes center
  stage.
• This picture is based on the biblical story of a
  son who had abandoned his family only to return
  after much suffering to ask the forgiveness of
  his father, who provides it. Can you feel the
  emotion in the picture?

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Return of the Prodigal Son

• The gentle father comes into the light to accept
  the head of his ragged, formerly rejected son.
  The elder son stands to the right, confused by
  his fathers act.
• Only the hands of the father and the feet of the
  kneeling son are painted with detail, while the
  faces are barely shown.
• Why did he use such quiet color? Do you know
  where the light comes from--did you notice that
  Rembrandt rarely shows its source?

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Etching

• Rembrandt was very productive in his
  life--completing perhaps 300 canvasses and over
  600 etching and prints. He left behind a large
  body of work, from drawings, prints, portraits,
  and landscapes.
• Later artists revered Rembrandt for his intense
  treatments and strong topics.
• The focus on the individual features and feelings
  of his subjects set Rembrandt apart from his
  peers. He was able to convey deep feelings with
  his shadowing, even in etches.