Rembrandt

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606–1669) was a Dutch painter and printmaker who stands as a central figure of the Dutch Golden Age. Born in Leiden, he trained with local artists and later studied with Pieter Lastman in Amsterdam, adopting a narrative approach to history, religion, and myth. He moved to Amsterdam in 1631, where he achieved substantial fame, a large workshop, and financial success before later difficulties. He married Saskia van Uylenburgh; they had a son, Titus, and Saskia died in 1642. In his later years he lived with Hendrickje Stoffels and fathered a daughter, Cornelia van Rijn. He died in Amsterdam in 1669 and was buried in the Westerkerk.

Rembrandt is celebrated for his portraits and biblical scenes, distinguished by psychological depth, masterful use of light and shadow, and a flexible brushwork that ranges from smooth, finished surfaces to expressive, textured strokes. His technique often employed chiaroscuro and tenebrism to sculpt forms and enhance narrative drama. He was also a prolific draftsman and printmaker, producing thousands of etchings, engravings, and drypoints that circulated widely and influenced later generations.

Among his best-known paintings are The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (1632), The Night Watch (1642), Syndics of the Drapers' Guild (1662), and the late rendering The Return of the Prodigal Son. The Jewish Bride is another frequently cited work from his later period. Rembrandt’s legacy extends beyond his native Netherlands; his innovative handling of light, emotion, and narrative, as well as his prolific printmaking, had a lasting impact on portraiture, genre painting, and the practice of drawing and etching in European art.