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Rembrandt van Rijn Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn is known as one of the most influential painters of his time because of his original style of painting. Though he faced many tragedies in his life, he managed to create some of the most exquisite works of his era. He is known for incredible use of chiaroscuro in his works. His pieces also contain a subtle darkness that manages to captivate the human soul. Rembrandt's life, believe it or not, was not one to be desired.
He was born on July 15, 1606, in Leiden. His father was a poor miller. Though they did not have much, they made sure that their son would get a good education, so they sent him to the Latin School. He attended there until he turned fourteen, when he decided to go to Leiden University. After a short stay there, he left to pursue his study of art. He first studied with Jacob van Swanenburch, and later with Pieter Lastman, a famous historical painter, in Amsterdam.
It took only six months for Rembrandt to master the arts from Lastman, and he then returned to Leiden. Though he was only twenty- two years old, he began to receive his own pupils. Rembrandt was an accomplished student of the arts, which enabled him to achieve so much at a young age. In 1631, Rembrandt moved to Amsterdam where he was married to Saskia van Uylenburgh in 1634. She was related to a wealthy art dealer, which helped Rembrandt's career tremendously. By 1641, Saskia had given birth to four children, but only one, Titus, had survived.
Unfortunately, the year after that, she passed away. Saskia's death marked a decline in events in Rembrandt's life. Though he re-married in 1649 to Hendrickje Stoffels, he was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1656. Though this was a low point in his life, Rembrandt managed to create some of his best works, such as The Jewish Bride, Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph, and Bathsheba.
Near the end of his life, Rembrandt was visited by death, but this time it took his wife and his only son. Finally, only eleven months after the loss of his son, Rembrandt's life ended on October 4, 1669. Rembrandt's use of paint and shading are just some of the reasons why he has been remembered. As he began to get older and mature, so did his artwork.
He started to use more rich colors, and his paintings took on a darker feel. In many of his paintings he used techniques known as chiaroscuro and impasto. Chiaroscuro is a term that describes the use of shading in any type of art, and Rembrandt is known today as a master of that. Very few other artists have ever been able to match his ability.
Some of the paintings that show this best are Portrait of a Painter in Old Age and the portrait of Jan Six. Though he passed long ago, many of his pieces have been re-created today. Rembrandt is to this day, one of the most phenomenal artists in history. His ability to master his work at such an early age is just one of the feats he managed to accomplish in his life. He suffered the loss of many of his loved ones, yet he was able to exhibit his feelings in all of his paintings. His ability to capture human feelings in an original way is what makes him still admired today.
Among all his religious paintings that derived from his Alchemists life-style we can distinguish a portrait of his son, Titus. I would like to describe this painting, its significance in Rembrandt's life, as well as to explore the artistic skills that Rembrandt used to make this painting so mysterious. Titus is a portrait by a father of his teenage son. It was painted the year after Rembrandt was declared bankrupt and the 15 year old Titus and his step mother Henrickje Stoffels, were obliged to administer the production of Rembrandt's etchings and the sale of his pictures in order to comply with guild regulations (2) The picture appears to me very mysterious. Titus is pictured in historical robes with a gold chain, recalling 16 th century Venetian portraits. Rembrandt, perhaps, wanted to show that his son will always remain wealthy.
Artist carried out the true nature of his son through his serious gaze. We can really say weather his sons mind is set on wisdom and peace or sorrow and decline. The facial features are very proportional and the colors that Rembrandt chose are not bright and bringing out a spiritual peace. Rembrandt accentuates the texture of the paint on the canvas, making the image seem immediate and spontaneous. The restricted palette and contrasts of light and shadow give the illusion of psychological connection between Titus and the viewer. (3) I totally agree with this commentary, when I look at Titus eyes I feel connected. Rembrandt's technique is almost the opposite to that of Frans Hals and Rubens.
His brush movement is a kind of mix of pastes of paint, out of which the picture gradually emerges and, a mystery of shade and light. He brought his figure on the foreground and emphasized it by lighting it from one side. The traces of Chiaroscuro are very obvious in this portrait. Rembrandt's skillful use of light and shade achieves its dramatic effect. Rembrandt made painting a means of exploring mythology, history, religious feeling and the picturesque of life, always with a tendency towards a deepening of the spiritual side (4) All throughout his life he has been facing difficult situations from family aspects to his own personal beliefs. However he was more for human-spirit oriented, as well as he was for justice rather then blind faith.
With his self-portrait (1668) he studied the life of the soul, its mysteries with help of his own features. As we know, From Rembrandt's biography, he painted his sons portrait while being on the edge, both emotionally and financially. And the fact that he was concerned with death-tragic destiny of all humans might have pushed him to draw his youngs son portrait. He represented Titus as his continuing, as his source for living and the only true legacy that he will soon leave after him-self. For him drawing his son was a kind of feedback in time. Maybe he was seeing him-self young again while picturing his son.
This picture is a sign of Rembrandt spiritual rebirth to me. Bibliography: Finley, William. The complete work of Rembrandt. London: Penguin Publishers, 1991 Sloan, Paul. Rembrandt van Rijn: Bibliography and Work. New York: Allyn and Bacon, 1984
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