Art Talk: Rembrandt in Amsterdam

Rembrandt van Rijn
Old Woman Reading, 1631
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

In 2020 I highlighted many artists and made an Artists Highlighted collection. One of the artists I highlighted in June 2020 was Art Talk: Rembrandt.

I want to come back and talk about Rembrandt once again. After having been to Amsterdam specifically, the Rembrandt House Museum and the Rijksmuseum I feel I understand him better.

Art Talk: Rembrandt at the Rijksmuseum
Art Talk: Rembrandt House Museum

I was able to see many of his works of art and have a much deeper appreciation of his genius and understand better why he is one of the greatest's artists of all time. ¹

When I saw this painting of Old Woman Reading I stood in awe! The detail in the hands and face and the cloth that looked like fur and the hat that looked like leather. It was incredible!

Rembrandt was born in Leiden, Dutch Republic in 1606. At the age of 25 (1631) he moved to Amsterdam. It was these years that I would like to talk about today.

In 1634 he married Saskia Van Uylenburgh. together they had four children together, three of whom died in infancy. Their son Titus lived to be an adult. This is a portrait Rembrandt did of Titus when Titus was 19 years old.

It is said that Rembrandt "frequently sought his Jewish neighbors to model for his Old Testament scenes". Like for this incredible painting of Art Talk: Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem

In 1639 Rembrandt and Saskia moved into what is now the Rembrandt House museum in the Jewish quarter of Amsterdam

Rembrandt was a successful portrait painter, doing portraits of couples like Marten and Oopjen. Although it is interesting to note, these are the only full length portraits he did.

Rembrandt was an artist, art dealer, teacher and collector.

Rembrandt painted and etched hundreds of self portraits. He was a incredible and influential etcher or lithograph artist.

He created a family, with both Saskia and Hendrickje, experimented with light, paint and color, etched and collected. He lived beyond his means and died at the age of 63. He was a portrait and Biblical painter. He made (painted and etched) hundreds of self portraits. He painted the Rijksmuseum prized painting The Nightwatch as well as the gorgeous and intimate painting of The Old Woman Reading. Rembrandt is indeed an incredible man and artist!

Sources
Rembrandt