The world of XVII-century it was full of fears by death (people use to sleep in small beds in a position of half straight), by monsters (a complicated ritual, witchcraft, praying or chants succeed to protect families), by loneliness (each house organize a corner with a chair from where you can see the life street – now we have television or facebook for that) and by dark. The fear of the night was well exploited by Rembrandt (in today Rembrandthuis Museum place) on the chiaroscuro effect of light.
When you need years and kilos of paint to finish a single command is time enough for an experiment, apprentice enlightenment, and balance. Also, with strong chances to become an artist-entrepreneur, as Rembrandt do it after he finds solutions to change the colors pigment keeping the same visual result. If you check the schedule on Rembrandhuis Museum there are good possibilities to be involved in Mr. Eric Armitage workshop about techniques, colors sources, prices, the time needed for a paint to be ready and a little of savory from that age:
In full moment of tulip crisis, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn satisfied the desires of clientele contributing at what today is called Dutch Golden Age also through activities like collecting and dealing with art. Creations born from fears, mythology, and economy are representing an age which made Holland a tiny country with big ambitions and European influence. Like today.
To understand differences between European Union members think what happened in your country at the same moment 15 July 1606 – 04 October 1669.
Now let’s come back in the art field and listen Mr. Fons van Laar who explain in other room of Rembrandthuis Museum how etchings methods are still in practice:
On the Rembrandthuis Museum, you can spend a few hours or days depends only on how addicted to the art you are. The electronic audio-guide is full of legends and stories about the moment surprised in paintings from the entire period, and the house keeps that elder air in the rooms used to receive guests to offer all the possible light in the painting atelier above. Don’t miss the cabinet of items collected for inspiration. Is a surprise what a painter can use to be inspired in his work.
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