Contents
Rembrandt
Painting The Night Watch and searching, lifelong self-portraits.
Etchings · Dutch Golden Age
- Born
- 15 July 1606
- Birthplace
- Leiden, Netherlands
- Died
- 4 October 1669
More people
Rembrandt
Rembrandt was a Dutch painter, printmaker and draughtsman. His use of light and close observation gave portraits and historical scenes a strong sense of individual presence, while his etchings broadened his audience.
Early life
Leiden family
Born into a miller’s household and educated at Latin school.
Apprenticeships
Trained with Jacob van Swanenburg and, briefly, the Amsterdam painter Pieter Lastman.
Career
- 1625
Leiden workshop
Established himself as an independent painter and began teaching pupils.
- 1630s
Amsterdam career
Built a busy portrait practice and received major group commissions.
- 1656
Financial crisis
Sought a form of insolvency that led to the sale of his house and collection.
- 1660s
Late work
Continued painting and printmaking despite reduced financial circumstances.
Selected work
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp
Turned a professional group portrait into a scene of concentrated attention.
The Night Watch
Staged a militia company in dramatic movement rather than static ranks.
The Return of the Prodigal Son
Rendered a biblical reunion through restrained gesture and warm light.
Beyond work
Family losses
His wife Saskia and several children died before him; his son Titus survived into adulthood.
Self-portraits
Recorded his own appearance in paintings, drawings and prints across much of his working life.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Rembrandt. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
