A traditional exhibition of well selected paintings and etchings by Rembrandt chosen and well interpreted to give a complete picture of how Rembrandt uses light in his work. It used the work of is pupils to show how he taught them to use light in their work and through the 3D exhibition installation showed how light was manipulated by Rembrandt to add impact and reinforce narrative in his compositions. The rooms of the exhibition were lit to show this and in one space in particular there was a window and linen canopy set up to show the way Rembrandt created diffuse daylight in his studio. 

 

The carefully selected works showed night-time, daylight and interior lighting from lamps, fires and candles. Using these the exhibition demonstrated the breadth of Rembrandt’s understanding and knowledge of the different effects of each type of light and how he could combine them to great effect in one composition. 

 

Most interesting to me with my current interest in painting flesh, was the way Rembrandt depicts light on the body and the many different tones of flesh he creates in order to do this. Deciding on the direction of light and making bold use of shadow Rembrandt’s work has remarkable emotional depth, in particular in his self-portraits.  With minimal mark making he manages to sketch in. a face bathed in light or etch the mere suggestion of a figure with delicacy and breath taking skill.