Light and Form - Rembrandt...

Peter denouciating Christ - Rembrandt

Rembrandt was a 15th century Dutch painter and etcher who is considered one of the greatest painters in European art history. His contribution came during the time of what is referred to as the 'Golden period' in Dutch art where there was a rise of the merchant classes and where everyday people instead of the european aristocracy took on a greater siginficance in figurative art. I am primarily concerned with his treatment of light and form with regards to its impact on Modern and contemporary art. He is one of the first painters to illustrate light eminating from his subjects as well as from an external source. This treatment of object and subject totally revolutionized how light was examined in painting and gave way to progressive understandings where it originated from - it came from outside sources as well as from within form. Prior to that the rennaisance painters saw light as coming from the outside only to illustrate a religious sensibility of God being and external force rather than from within.This technique was instrumental to the study of light and form with the progress of Modern artists whether aithiests or spiritual....