Rembrandt

<p><strong>Rembrandt van Rijn</strong> (1606–1669) never left his homeland of the Netherlands but in his massive body of painting, drawing, and etching, he <strong>changed the course of Western art</strong>. His prolific oeuvre encompasses religious, historical, and secular scenes, as well as one of the most <strong>extraordinary series of portraits and self-portraits</strong> in history.<br /><br /> Rembrandt’s work foregrounds <strong>texture, light, and acute observation</strong>. Like sudden, startling apparitions in a shadowy street, his subjects are illuminated against deep, dark backgrounds and rendered with <strong>immense physical as well as psychological scrutiny</strong>. Whether biblical or mythological figures, powerful patrons, or fellow citizens, each subject is bestowed not only with <strong>meticulous facial features </strong>but also with the <strong>intrigue of thoughts and feelings</strong> so that even age-old narratives such as the bible story of David and Bathsheba find a new level of <strong>human drama.</strong> Rembrandt also left one of the most <strong>extensive series of self-portraits</strong> of any artist, chronicling his own face from his youth to the year of his death.<br /><br /> Rembrandt’s rise coincided with the blossoming of the Dutch Golden Age, an era of prosperity in the Netherlands. He was encouraged by wealthy patrons, but was above all driven by a profound fascination with people. In this book, we <strong>tour some of Rembrandt’s key paintings, etchings, and drawings</strong> to introduce his techniques, inspirations, and exceptional achievements. From the Baroque <em>Belshazzar’s Feast</em> to the world-famous<em> Night Watch </em>we uncover a world of deep, rich tones, masterful draftsmanship, and a <strong>remarkable sensitivity for the human condition</strong>.</p>