Having just returned from Amsterdam and a visit to the Rijksmuseum I was so pleased to discover the presentation of the first major retrospective view of the late work of Rembrandt. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event to see this collection from the great Master of the Golden Age, Rembrandt van Rijn.

Over 100 works including sketches and prints, from leading museums and private collections around the world, were on display in Amsterdam.

I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the paintings from the exhibition:

Rembrandt - a self portrait — Rembrandt 1659 – a self-portrait. National Gallery of Art, Washington

Rembrandt’s work underwent a radical transformation in the last eighteen years of his life (1606-1669). His later work was more experimental technically and had a greater depth psychologically, emotionally and intimately. He made at least eighty self-portraits and studies of himself. While he had turbulent setbacks in his last years, none of this drama is reflected in his self portraits. They are introspective and no longer concerned with outward appearances.

Lucretia by Rembrandt 1666 - Minneapolis Institute of Arts — Lucretia by Rembrandt 1666 – Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Rembrandt sometimes used a palette knife to apply thick layers of often unmixed paint, or the butt end of the brush to make scratches in the paint. He used this tool in the lower part of Lucretia‘s white shift, both sleeves and her right hand.

An old woman reading – oil on canvas 1655. Buccleuch Collection, Boughton House, Northamptonshire

The exhibition was divided into ten chapters highlighting Rembrandt’s artistic motives. Repeatedly he used the themes of light, intimacy and contemplation. His fascination with light extended to a combination of etchings and drypoint (lines scratched with a needle directly into the copper printing plate). He made each impression unique by using different kinds of ink and paper.

Time slipped on by – I hastily made my way through the crowds into the main area, scanning and absorbing as much information as possible from these great walls, until I came upon one of my most favourite paintings from none other than – Vermeer – The Kitchen Maid nestled beside The Little Street and many more.