Rembrandt is regarded as one of the greatest artists that ever lived and this film seeks to explore the truth about the man behind the legend.
This major exhibition of late works by Rembrandt is currently showing at the National Gallery London until the middle of January and will then transfer to the Reijkmuseum in Amsterdam. The film includes some stunning images of both these great cities.
Privileged, exclusive access was permitted to both galleries, and the movie takes us through this landmark exhibition whilst interweaving Rembrandt’s life story.
The film features interviews with the show’s curator Betsy Wieseman and Jonathan Bikker, Curator of Research at the Rijksmuseum. Artist Richard Twose analyses Rembrandt’s painting technique whilst Dolores De Sade discussed the revolutionary way that Rembrandt worked with printmaking/etching which was an emerging art form at the time. Philosopher A.C. Grayling provided insight into Rembrandt’s extraordinary series of self-portraits,which are one of the highlights of the exhibition.
The focus is on the later works by Rembrandt, generally considered to be his finest creative years. The masterpieces he produced during this period could be called his defining works, with each piece so piercingly soulful and honest that they helped develop our understanding of Rembrandt as both a man and as an artist.
Most of the works are shown in detailed closeup so you can see the cracks in the varnish and the brushstrokes.
Some of the key works included are,– the delicate, exquisite A Young Woman Sleeping of Hendrickje Stoffels (about 1626-63), Rembrandt’s common-law wife at the time, and two different versions of Lucretia (and how the dramatic moment of the two are similar but separate).
There is the large, imposing Syndics of the Drapers Guild of 1662 , sometimes described as Rembrandt’s “last great collective portrait “. Religious works such as The Stoning of St Stephen, The Three Crosses and Susannah and the Elders are mentioned.
Another very famous work we are privileged to see is the swirling, dramatic The Night Watch completed in 1642. This painting is famous for three characteristics in particular: its colossal size (363 cm × 437 cm (11.91 ft × 14.34 ft)), the dazzling very dramatic use of light and shadow ( chiaroscuro ), and the idea of movement in what would have normally been a rather static military portrait.
This was an enthralling, thought provoking exhibition , many layered like the maestro himself.
Running time 90 mins.
ART ON SCREEN: REMBRANDT is currently screening at selected cinemas.