The artist Rembrandt. "Self-portrait" as a life story

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

At about the same time, in the middle of the 17th century, the ancient flowering Flanders gave birth to the art of two of the greatest painters - Rubens and Rembrandt.

Rembrandt's biography and self-portraits

Rembrandt van Rijn was just a miller's son. He was born on July 15, 1606. By this time the mill was running at full capacity, and my father's business was going remarkably well. Therefore, he was able to educate his fourth son. At first it was a Latin school, and then a university in Leiden. But the boy painted tirelessly and wanted to learn painting. By 1628 he had become a real artist. One of the first pencil self-portraits shows a very young chubby youth with artistically disheveled hair and burning eyes. Here is a young Rembrandt, a self-portrait.

In 1630, this is already a mature person. Before us appears full of desire to create, a real master Rembrandt. The self-portrait captured all these changes. He already has a student Gerard Dou, later a very famous artist. These years are a fruitful period for the artist. Everything around him becomes his model. He is still working "for himself", but by 1630 he was already beginning toreceive orders. But Rembrandt still writes a self-portrait of a young man - himself. It must be said that the mirror had a very great influence on the composition and on the opportunity to look at the mistakes made. And then, of course, eliminate them.

Versatility and endless diligence

For all his difficult life, changing from prosperity to poverty and oblivion, he will write about six hundred paintings, make about two thousand (!) Drawings and three hundred etchings. One of the master's brilliant paintings on a mythological theme is Danae, which is on display in the Hermitage. It was restored by our restorers after it was doused with acid and cut with a knife. Now it pleases visitors again with its lyricism and warm golden color. "The Feast at Esther" on the biblical story is complicated by its deep psychology. The picture tells about the suddenly opened betrayal. About him, with difficulty choosing words, Esther speaks to King Assur. The king only nervously crumples the handkerchief in his hands, barely holding back his feelings. In the corner, in the shadows, the traitor Haman lurked. The very color of the picture, iridescent with all shades of cinnabar and gold, shows what confusion Esther's story caused. "The Return of the Prodigal Son" is another of the pinnacles of Rembrandt's work. The meaning of the biblical parable is in the forgiveness of mistakes, realized and redeemed by years of suffering and wanderings. Returning to the father's house to an understanding father, finding a warm home - everything fit on the canvas.

Amsterdam

At this time, since 1631, Rembrandt lives and works in Amsterdam. If there are not enough orders, then the artist paints old people. And Rembrandt does not forget about his favorite genre - a self-portrait. Here he is a mature man, in a soft beret on his head, carefully and directly looking at us. Looking at himself, the artist better recognizes a person in general, because we have common features in varying degrees - love, mercy, suffering, anger, resentment, betrayal, courage, steadfastness, confusion.

Wedding

In 1634 the artist marries Saskia van Youpenborch. She is the daughter of a famous lawyer, and Rembrandt, in addition to personal happiness, also has material luck, many orders.

This is a rather short period of happiness and contentment of the artist. Rembrandt will enjoy them for only seven years. “Self-portrait with Saskia on his knees” is the apotheosis of his worldly well-being. It contains the well-being of the artist, expressed in precious draperies, a peacock on a table covered with a patterned tablecloth, beautiful fashionable expensive velvet clothes, the brilliance of a high-lifted glass, in the tender affection of a young wife. She half-turned to the viewer and calmly looks at us with dark eyes. Her hair is tied in a graceful net, and she has dangling earrings in her ears. And the artist, smiling and holding a young woman with his hand, radiates happiness. The tones are noble, brownish-red, but Saskia emits a golden glow, in which her husband, who is a little bit in the shade, simply bathes. Everything is surrounded by air. By composition, it is a stable isoscelestriangle. Also, everything is stable in the world of the creator. But first, a pencil sketch was made, completely different from the finished work. This is a very light, airy drawing, full of wavy running lines, so characteristic of the master. Instantly captures the nature of Rembrandt. Self-portrait with Saskia is depicted face to face. In the foreground is the artist, and behind him is a little plump wife with carelessly knocked out hair on her forehead and around the oval of her face, so tender and sweet.

Just a perfect child, with whom a person enjoys communication, who, although he loves work, must tirelessly earn a living. They look like home. The artist's turn-down collar freely opens the neck. On the head - a favorite takes. Many years later, Rembrandt will write a self-portrait with Saskia, who has long been gone. He is still the same brave, but next to him is a sweet old woman with whom he could spend his last years. And she retained those features of the child, whom you want to take care of. In her calm eyes there is a memory of the past, and wrinkles are only what life should leave both on her face and in her heart. It's amazing how a person carried through his whole life the image of a loved one, not for a moment forgotten person.

After Saskia's death

She died in 1642 and unwittingly took everything with her. Their children died, only Titus remained. The artist did not enter into a new marriage, although he had a daughter from his connection with the maid Gendrikie Jagers. And he became interested in collecting. So much money was spent on rarity thathad to move to a hotel.

Rembrandt Portraits

During his life he painted about 90 self-portraits. What made him follow his changes so closely? Apparently, he illustrated his biography with them. Rembrandt's self-portraits are the story of the artist's life. He followed the dynamics of his changes. His portraits are scattered throughout the museums of the world.

In 1634 he seems to be studying himself. What will he come to in life. He has already met his one and is thinking about how to make their life worthy and successful. He still can't imagine what's in store for him. He is dressed in furs, velvet and a favorite beret.

The year is 1640. The happy period is still going on. In the portrait, the artist is quite confident in himself and in the stability of life. A rich outfit, a velvet camisole with satin inserts, a thin white shirt with lace and complete calm only emphasize this.

1652. In this portrait, he proudly looks down on himself, impoverished, in simple clothes with a hole in his shoulder.

Dark gamma, where the light falls only on the face that he wants to highlight, emphasize the severity of the artist. However, a slight mockery plays on his lips - he, like Solomon, knew that everything passes.

1661st. This time he portrayed himself with all the trappings of an artist. Light pouring from a height in the background, and deep shadows below, are characteristic of the master of chiaroscuro. There are disputes about the curved line behind the artist’s back to this day, but art historians have not come to a single conclusion. The master made a wish for everyoneriddle.

1665. Rembrandt was already preparing to declare himself bankrupt. Calmly he looks at impending old age in poverty.

Recent years

In 1656, Rembrandt handed over his property to his son Titus and declared himself bankrupt. Having moved to the Jewish quarter, he did not quit working. For the most part, he painted portraits of his son. But in 1668 the son dies. It was a hard blow. However, in 1669 the artist created his masterpiece The Return of the Prodigal Son. Rembrandt's last self-portrait was painted in 1669. Rembrandt van Rijn ended his creative and earthly life on this.

Rembrandt, rejected by his contemporaries, had a very powerful influence on the development of world art of members of the Guild of St. Luke. Painters have learned and continue to learn from his paintings.