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Rembrandt van Rijn, 1606 -1669
In many ways, RembrandtÕs etchings are more important than his paintings, in that he revolutionized the medium that was in his day simply a copyistÕs tool. Rembrandt painted portraits to make money... he made etchings for his personal pleasure and to feed his creative genius. In etching Rembrandt allowed himself to create whatever he wanted without the academic restraints of the day.
Rembrandt was a great master of the Baroque Age and one of its most innovative and influential printmakers. He created more than 300 prints in his lifetime, many of which he labored over obsessively, often resulting in six or more states.
Scholars have divided his print output into different categories according to subjectÑeach reveals a different part of the artist's personality. His self-portraits reveal the complexity of his psychology and reveal his general moods over the years. His many religious prints demonstrate an incredible biblical knowledge, while his beggar and genre scenes are still being analyzed for their meaning and intent. The intensity of Rembrandt's attachment to the print media has inspired many later artists to dedicate themselves to the task of printmaking.
Rembrandt's Life. 1606ÑRembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn born in Leiden. 1620ÑEnrolled at Leiden University. ca. 1621ÑStudied with the Leiden painter Jacob van Swanenburg. 1624-25ÑStudied with the painter Pieter Lastman in Amsterdam. 1625ÑReturned to Leiden and set up his own studio. 1631ÑMoved permanently to Amsterdam. 1634ÑMarried Saskia van Uyenburgh. 1639ÑMoved with Saskia into the house on the Breestraat, the present Rembrandt House. 1641ÑSon Titus born. Saskia dies shortly after never fully recovering from his birth. Hendrickje Stoffels enters the household eventually becoming Rembrandt's common law wife. 1660ÑRembrandt moved to the Rozengracht. 1668ÑTitus married, but died in the autumn of the same year. 1669ÑRembrandt died and was buried in the Westerkerk.