Rembrandt Quotes on Art

Rembrandt was a famous Dutch master painter, draftsman and printmaker. He is best known for his probing self portraits, mythical, biblical and historical scenes. Rembrandt was also a master printmaker and produced many etchings and drawings. Famous Rembrandt paintings include “The Prodigal Son in the Brothel”, “Self-Portrait with Beret and Turned-Up Collar”, “Bathsheba at Her Bath”, “Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp”, “The Philosopher in Meditation”, “Slaughtered Ox”, “The Polish Rider”, “A Woman Bathing in a Stream”, “The Night Watch or The Militia Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq”, and “The Storm on the Sea of Galilee”.

Mini biography: Born Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn on the 15th of July, 1606 in Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands. His mother was Neeltgen Willemsdochter van Zuijtbrouck and his father Harmen Gerritszoon van Rijn was a miller. Rembrandt married Saskia van Uylenburgh in 1634 and they had one child who survived to adulthood: Titus van Rijn. Saskia died in 1642. He met his long term partner Hendrickje Stoffels in the 1640s and they had a child together: Cornelia. The couple never married because of a will set up by Saskia, but they remained together until Hendrickje’s death in 1663. The artist died on the 4th of October, 1669 in Amsterdam, Netherlands at the age of 63.

List of Famous Rembrandt Art Quotes

Choose only one master.. Nature. Rembrandt

Try to put well in practice what you already know; and in so doing, you will in good time, discover the hidden things which you now inquire about. Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know. By following carefully the rules of teachings provided that they are truthful, you can save a lot of time. But a student full of doubt is unable to move forwards and to judge well the truth. Rembrandt

Without atmosphere a painting is nothing. Rembrandt

A painting is not made to be sniffed. Rembrandt

Of course you will say that I ought to be practical and ought to try and paint the way they want me to paint. Well, I will tell you a secret. I have tried and I have tried very hard, but I can’t do it. I just can’t do it! And that is why I am just a little crazy. Rembrandt

Painting is the grandchild of nature. It is related to God. Rembrandt

A painting is finished when the artist says it is finished. Rembrandt

Sincerity is the eventual deception of all great men. Rembrandt

Art Quotes About Rembrandt

Picasso was one of that genius caste which includes Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Van Gogh and above all Velázquez. Francis Bacon Quotes

I have had three masters; Nature, Velasquez, and Rembrandt. Francisco Goya Quotes

I was in Washington the other day and looked at that late self-portrait by Rembrandt. Honest to God, I didn’t know what I kept looking at. You know the more you think about these things, the less the thing appears as they are supposed to appear. In those great Rembrandt’s there is an ambiguity of paint being image and image being paint, which is very mysterious. Philip Guston Quotes

I maintain that the frustration is an important, almost crucial, ingredient. I think that the best painting involves frustration. The point about the late Rembrandt is not that it’s satisfying but on the contrary that it is disturbing and frustrating. Because really, what he has done is to eliminate any plane – anything between that image and you. The Van Dyck hasn’t. It says I’m a painting. The Rembrandt says: I am not a painting, I am a real man. But he is not a real man either. What is it then, that you are looking at? Philip Guston Quotes

It will be remembered that Rembrandt, in his first period, was very careful and minute in detail, and there is evidence of stippling in his flesh painting; but when he grew older and in the fulness of his power, all appearance of such manipulation and minuteness vanished in the breath and facility of his brush, though the advantage of his early manner remained. The latter manner is, of course,; much the finer and really the more finished of the two. John Everett Millais Quotes

Pop-art was in fashion at the time. But after my encounter with Rembrandt, I realized that I was left with no other choice. It was impossible to obey the times when this was so overwhelming. I thought that I would never be able to make something that great, but I would rather fail than avoid the risk. This was the way! Odd Nerdrum Quotes

Rembrandt is part of a group of artists who never go away. It’s like seeing a Francis Bacon exhibition: it just blows you away. Certain artists really hit—they don’t go in and out of fashion. Jenny Saville Quotes

Rembrandt Self Portrait Painting

More on Dutch Golden Age Master Painter Rembrandt

How has Rembrandt influenced your art making? Is he one of your favorite famous Dutch painters? Let us know what you think about Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn in the comments below.

Related or similar popular artists and celebrities include: Odd Nerdrum, William Dobell, Goya, and other Famous Dutch Artists.