Rembrandt van Rijn: painting with light

Self-portait 1628 and self-portrait 1640

Rembrandt (1606-69), the master of light and shadow, is the great artist of the Dutch school. In his Self-portraits Rembrandts use of light is clearly to be seen. In the earliest portrait of 1928 light is more important then the face. In the portrait one year later Rembrandt uses his famous light from above.

Light is the focus of many Dutch artists. Painters as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Jongkind, Dibbets etc. are famous for their use of light. The beautiful Dutch light influences the way many Dutch artists work.