Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White

The innovation, creativity, and influence of Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669) is evident not only in his paintings, but also in the more than 300 etchings he made during his career. At a time when most saw etching primarily as a vehicle to reproduce famous works of art, Rembrandt utilized the medium to create groundbreaking compositions. Filled with delicate lines and velvety shadows, his etchings often achieve the psychological intensity of his oil paintings. Nearly fifty works in Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White present the depth and breadth of Rembrandt’s etching subjects, including portraits, self-portraits, scenes from daily life, landscapes, narrative scenes, and still lifes. A select group of etchings by Rembrandt’s contemporaries, as well as later admirers including James McNeill Whistler and Pablo Picasso, demonstrate the Dutch master’s enduring influence. Organized by the American Federation of Arts, this exhibition shares rarely seen etchings collected by the Rembrandt House Museum, the artist’s former home and studio in Amsterdam.