Uncover the highs and lows of one of history’s greatest artists. Known for his expressive self-portraits and intense use of light and shadow, Rembrandt lived a life filled with both fame and personal tragedy.
Rembrandt
Rembrandt created nearly 100 self-portraits, documenting his face from youth to old age like a painted diary.
His masterpiece The Night Watch was originally much brighter—centuries of dirt and varnish made it seem darker.
Rembrandt never left the Netherlands, yet his art reflects global influences, including Eastern fabrics and Roman architecture.
He once declared bankruptcy, despite being one of the most sought-after painters of his time.
Rembrandt outlived all four of his children and his beloved wife Saskia, who died young from tuberculosis.
He broke painting conventions by portraying biblical and mythological figures with raw emotion and ordinary features.
Rembrandt often used his own face for studies of expressions—anger, sorrow, joy, and fear.
His dramatic lighting technique, chiaroscuro, influenced filmmakers and painters for centuries.
Rembrandt lived in a luxurious Amsterdam home, but had to sell it and his belongings after his financial collapse.
He never painted royalty, but his portraits of merchants and soldiers showed more psychological depth than any court painting.
Rembrandt trained many students, including Carel Fabritius, whose own work influenced Vermeer.
He once painted a woman who had sued him, immortalizing her in a now-famous work as an act of subtle revenge.
His paintings were often rejected for being too emotional or unconventional—but today, those are the qualities most admired.
Rembrandt’s signature changed several times, but he eventually used just his first name—like a celebrity brand.
He died in 1669 and was buried in an unmarked grave, a quiet end for one of art’s loudest voices.
