Rembrandt (Basic Art)
Product Description
Rembrandt (Basic Art)
<strong>Perfect likeness</strong><br /> Face to face with Rembrandt van Rijn<br /><br /> <strong>Rembrandt van Rijn</strong> (1606–1669) never left his homeland of the Netherlands but in his massive body of painting, drawing, and etching, he <strong>changed the course of Western art</strong>. His prolific oeuvre encompasses religious, historical, and secular scenes, as well as one of the most <strong>extraordinary series of portraits and self-portraits</strong> in history. <br /><br />Rembrandt’s work foregrounds <strong>texture, light, and acute observation</strong>. Like sudden, startling apparitions in a shadowy street, his subjects are illuminated against deep, dark backgrounds and rendered with <strong>immense physical as well as psychological scrutiny</strong>. Whether biblical or mythological figures, powerful patrons, or fellow citizens, each subject is bestowed not only with <strong>meticulous facial features</strong> but also with the <strong>intrigue of thoughts and feelings</strong> so that even time-old narratives such as the bible story of <em>David and Bathsheba</em> finds a new level of <strong>human drama</strong>. Rembrandt also left one of the most <strong>extensive series of self-portraits</strong> of any artist, chronicling his own face from his youth to the year of his death. <br /><br />Rembrandt’s rise coincided with the blossoming of the Dutch Golden Age, an era of prosperity in the Netherlands. He was encouraged by wealthy patrons, but was above all driven by a profound fascination with people. In this book, we <strong>tour some of Rembrandt’s key paintings, etchings, and drawings</strong> to introduce his techniques, inspirations, and exceptional achievements. From the Baroque <em>Belshazzar’s Feast</em> to the world-famous <em>Night Watch</em> we uncover a world of deep, rich tones, masterful draftsmanship, and a <strong>remarkable sensitivity for the human condition</strong>.<br /><br /><strong>About the series:</strong><br />Each book in TASCHEN’s Basic Art series features:<ul> <li> a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance <li> a concise biography <li> approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions</ul>
