This blog post is a write up of Room 44 at the National Gallery which is an intimate space with some really exquisite & captivating portraits by Rembrandt. Feel free to see my other write ups. I love going to galleries and writing about art.
Rembrandt van Rijn is one of the great masters. His visual art is utterly moving and captivating. I also love his family name “Van Rijn” refers to the river Rhine which flowed through his birthplace Leiden. Beautiful name.
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Rembrandt’s Self Portrait (aged 34) — 1640
Beautiful. Partially-lit in a darkened alcove makes for a very captivating and fascinating portrait.
I believe this was influenced by Titian — or perhaps, the other way round?
There is a certain dignified gravity in his manner. Rembrandt is here clearly wealthy, successful and confident. His use of light reminds me of Caravaggio and the Italian Baroque paintings.
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Portrait of Aechje Claesdr
Wow.
I think this was Rembrandt’s grandmother. It is so lovingly done and moving.
The subject evokes a fragile and tender feeling. Her elegant and delicately-pleated white ruffs balance her compelling face.
I think her unmet gaze, furrowed eyebrows, pursed lips, heavy eyes, bulbous nose create a melancholic face, even forlorn. Makes me feel protective and, as though, I want to embrace her warmly.
Rembrandt paints the deeper character of his subjects, and skillfully depicts the effects of age with some tenderness.