Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) is generally considered one of the greatest artists of all time and an icon of the Dutch Golden Age.
Intensely prolific and working across painting, drawing and printmaking, his artwork is characterised by his exceptional skills of observation which brought a consistent naturalism to his work, even as his style evolved.
Born on July 15, 1606, in Leiden, a bustling city in the Dutch Republic, Rembrandt was the ninth of ten children in a middle-class family. His father, Harmen Gerritsz, was a miller, and his mother, Neeltgen Willemsdochter, came from a well-established family. Growing up in a prosperous yet humble household, Rembrandt was exposed to a variety of trades and crafts, but it was clear early on that his passion lay in the realm of art.
At the age of 14, Rembrandt enrolled at the University of Leiden, but he quickly shifted his focus to the study of painting under Pieter Lastman, a well-known history painter. The move to a more artistic education marked the beginning of his lifelong commitment to the craft. By 1624, at just 18 years old, Rembrandt had already made his first significant steps as an artist, setting up his own studio in Leiden. Despite his youth, his talent was unmistakable, and his works, filled with rich detail and emotional depth, began to garner attention in the artistic circles of the city.
Though he lived in a period of intense political and artistic change, Rembrandt’s early works were characterised by a distinctive blend of realism and emotional intensity. His ability to capture the human condition, both in the subtle play of light and shadow and in the psychological depth of his subjects, quickly set him apart from his peers.
A Master of Prints
Rembrandt achieved remarkable renown in his lifetime, due in part to the dissemination of his imagery through prints which was key to building a wider artistic reputation in seventeenth-century Europe. His unprecedented success is demonstrated by the nickname acquired by one of his most successful figure compositions ‘Christ Healing the Sick,’ which was dubbed ‘The Hundred Guilder Print’ for having sold for this extravagant sum, possibly repeatedly, within his lifetime.
Across his career, Rembrandt produced in excess of three hundred prints with approximately twenty-six recorded landscape etchings, and is one of the few Western artists whose etchings are as popular as his paintings. He was drawn to etching over the more common method of engraving due to its intimacy and immediacy: the artist is able to draw onto the copper plate with freedom and flexibility and can, with skill, convey rich tone and velvety textures. Unusually for the time, Rembrandt did not just provide designs for skilled engravers to turn into prints but prioritised the immediacy of drawing onto a copper etching plate to create prints by his own hand.
Later Life & Death
In the later years of his life, Rembrandt van Rijn faced a period of both personal hardship and financial difficulty, contrasting sharply with the early success and wealth he had enjoyed. Throughout the 1630s and 1640s, he had been a prosperous figure in the Amsterdam art scene, renowned for his portraits and innovative works. However, the 1650s marked a turning point. He endured the heartbreaking death of his beloved wife, Saskia, in 1642, followed by the loss of several of their children. These personal tragedies cast a shadow over his later works, infusing them with deeper emotional resonance and introspection.
While Rembrandt's artistic output remained prolific, his financial situation deteriorated. His luxurious lifestyle, combined with poor financial decisions, led to mounting debts. In 1656, the artist was forced to declare bankruptcy, selling off many of his possessions, including his home and valuable art collection. Despite these challenges, he continued to paint and produce drawings, often focusing on more intimate subjects such as self-portraits, biblical scenes, and contemplative portraits that reflected his inner turmoil and introspection.
Rembrandt’s later work showcased his unparalleled skill with light and shadow, using them to convey emotion and complexity. While his circumstances grew increasingly difficult, his artistic reputation never faltered, and his mastery of the craft continued to shine through.
Rembrandt passed away on October 4, 1669, at the age of 63. By this time, he had fallen into relative obscurity and poverty. His burial in an unmarked grave at Amsterdam's Westerkerk reflected his financial struggles. Yet, in the years following his death, his work gained immense recognition, and today, Rembrandt is celebrated as one of the most influential artists in Western art history.