What Can Rembrandt Teach Us About Art Today?

Artificate

[ahr-ti-fuh-kayt] to talk about art in a manner that can be understood. (word origin: reidsart.com)

"What can we learn from Rembrandt?"
406 years ago today Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born. We are in the middle of a new renaissance for realist art and this continued popularity of this Dutch master is a sign that his work is still relevant. "#Rembrandt" was trending on Twitter today. (Does anyone else find that ironic?) Whenever I teach art students who are interested in illustration or tattoos, I have them study Rembrandt's prints. Rembrandt remains rooted in the public consciousness as one of the greatest artists of all time.

Great art transcends "movements"
During the 20th century it seemed there was a new art movement every week. Warhol predicted that everyone would have 15 minutes of fame and realist art was called "boring and irrellevant" by the abstract non-representational artists. Despite this nadir for fine art, exhibits of Rembrandt's works continued to draw huge crowds. Rembrandt's paintings from the mid 1600s were certainly not part of whatever movements were in fashion during the 20th century. Why are his paintings still so popular? Why is he still so widely acclaimed?

It is very hard to deny the skill of someone like Rembrandt. His brushwork, tenebrist lighting, subdued color, and mood has stood the test of time. Rembrandt did not pander to the latest trends or the critics. He painted with consumate skill and created amazing works of art. He was not trying to be different or establish brand identity. He was too busy creating masterpieces and constantly examining himself through the lens of his art. His introspective self-portraits are legendary. He painted subjects in a way that was honest rather than flattering. He continued where Caravaggio left off. He painted in a manner that was not yet popular. By not waiting for tastes in art to change, he helped alter the course of art history.

Artistic work ethic
I have a book of every known Rembrandt print, with most of them actual size. It is an impressive body of work that any artist would be proud to claim. But wait! That book doesn't even include his paintings or sketches! It is humbling to realize how much art Rembrandt was creating each year. Nobody could call him a lazy artist. Because Rembrandt loved art so much, he also collected it, even when he couldn't afford it. He lost most of his collection to bankruptcy. He did not earn even a fraction of what his art was worth and was buried in a pauper's grave. If he wasn't making much money, why did he paint so prolifically until the day he died? He was the artist that we should strive to be. He painted because he loved it.

Never stop improving your art
If you look at Rembrandt's paintings from his youth, you might be surprised to see how good he already was. He chose to keep challenging himself and experimenting with chiaroscuro and brushwork. Imagine if you were Rembrandt and still felt you needed improvement! Art does not have an end goal. We do not reach a point where there is no way to improve. It is a lifelong journey. Rembrandt's self portraits chronicle his life and also his progress as an artist. They always remind me that as artists we should be challenging ourselves every day.


Realism doesn't mean photo-realism
All the painters that we refer to with the title "master", such as Rembrandt, Michaelangelo Buonarotti, Bouguereau, and Rubens, painted realistically. All of them. Every single one. Let that sink in. Their artwork never really went out of style. What caused the masters from art history to stand out among their peers was that they were not merely copying an image, they were creating compositions that communicated experiences to their audiences. They used light and color to create drama. Rembrandt reminds us that realism is so much more than copying a photo.



Why am I an artist?
When I look at Rembrandt's artwork I am reminded of everything I love about art and why I am an artist in the first place. I am inspired to paint more and push my own boundaries. I am humbled by his skill and dynamic compositions. I am reassured that beautiful art will never go out of style. I am reminded to focus not on what others think of my art but on my own artistic vision. Not too shabby for a 406 year old Dutch painter who died penniless, huh?
Happy birthday and thank you Rembrandt! :)


I welcome feedback from artists, art lovers, and anyone else wanting to artificate. Any questions, suggestions, critque or opinions are welcome. I love talking about art and I look forward to sharing with you.

Christopher Reid is an award-winning artist working in pastel, watercolor, acrylic,and charcoal. He paints all different subjects from coastal landscapes to wildlife to portraits. View his work at reidsart.com or email reidsart@yahoo.com