Rembrandt in Amsterdam: Creativity and Competition

An in-depth examination of the crucial role that Amsterdam played in Rembrandt’s evolution as an artist

Around the age of 25, Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669) moved from his hometown of Leiden to Amsterdam, which was the commercial capital of northern Europe at that time. Considered a bold step for a fledgling artist, this change demonstrates that Rembrandt wanted to benefit financially from Amsterdam's robust art market. He soon married the cousin of a successful art dealer, and came into frequent contact with wealthy and sophisticated patrons who eagerly commissioned him to paint their portraits. The artist's style quickly evolved from the small, meticulous panels of his Leiden period to the broadly brushed, dramatically lit, and realistically rendered canvases for which he is renowned.
 
Rembrandt in Amsterdam explores this pivotal transition in the artist’s career and reveals how the stimulating and affluent environment of Amsterdam inspired him to reach his full potential. Lavishly illustrated, this volume offers a fascinating look into Amsterdam’s unparalleled creative community and its role in Rembrandt’s development of a wide-ranging brand that comprised landscapes, genre scenes, history paintings, portraits, and printmaking.

Stephanie S. Dickey is professor and Bader Chair in Northern Baroque Art at Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada. Jochen Sander is vice director and curator of Flemish, Dutch, and German paintings before 1800 at the Städel Museum, Frankfurt, and professor of art history at Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt.