Customer Reviews

Rembrandt Drawings: 116 Masterpieces in Original Color (Dover Fine Art, History of Art)

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Rembrandt's drawings, though monochromatic, deserve to be in color. The variations in his pen lines and washes are part of their greatness, and I've waited for decades to see a book like this. I'm surprised it's in hardcover (I have about a thousand Dover books, all paperbacks) so it costs a few extra dollars, and it's no surprise that at least most of the reproductions are generations removed from the originals, but I'm hardly complaining. Up till now I haven't found a complete color collection of his drawings, and he is one of history's greatest (and most subtle) draftsmen, so this is a gift to the world. If we ever get a book like this reproduced from the originals, it will probably cost over $100.
And regarding the artwork, I'll quote my elder colleague and master draftsman, Don Lagerberg: "The older I get, the better Rembrandt gets."

Rembrandt Drawings is a superb collection of drawings by the great Dutch master. They are intimate sketches which depict a glance. They are completely modern, predating the technique of the French modernists, and catch that first critical moment when the essential of a scene is grasped. Above all there is the instant seizure of a moment of humanity, a fleeting expression, query, puzzlement, wonder, but, strangely not a smile.
Three of the drawings belong to the more than 90 self portraits in which Rembrandt traced his biography. One is an image of the artist at the age of 23 and it is informative to compare with the oil painting which followed, a display of genius in handling light and shadow. But for all that, the naive sketch catches a mood that no longer exists in the magnificent painting.
The book is a treasure to browse and to ponder the profound humanity it contains. Its simplicity is an invitation to take a pencil and trace the same and similar lines, to explore the creative mind of one of the greatest artists who ever lived.

I am very happy with my purchase. I enjoyed this book of Rembrandt's drawings. This is very inspirational to me as an artist. I highly recommend this book. Thank you.