All the artists you will encounter in the exhibition Experimentation – from the 17th century to now – have one thing in common, they experimented without holding back. By trying out different techniques and materials, they continually discovered something new. And they approached the same theme over and over with a fresh perspective. Thanks to these experiments, they developed their craftsmanship into mastery. Discover artworks from the Rembrandt House Museum collection by Rembrandt, Geertruydt Roghman, Glenn Brown, Erik Desmazières, Gérard de Palézieux, Reinder Homan and Willem den Ouden, amongst many others.
In this exhibition you’ll also have the opportunity to make a drawing yourself, right in the middle of the gallery! Try out different types of paper and drawing materials. Just like the artists around you – each and every one of them a source of inspiration.
Experimenting with trees
If Rembrandt were to have a motto, it would have been ‘work from life’. In other words: observe your subject very carefully. This way he was able to very convincingly depict a group of lonely trees on a hill. You can almost hear the approaching wind rustling through the leaves. But Rembrandt was certainly not the only one with strong observation skills. In this exhibition you will see prints by artists from the 17th to the 20th century, who all put their own spin on the same subject. Every print includes a tree, yet it is never the same.
Experimenting with Rembrandt
Tronies were very popular in the 17th century. They are portraits of models that portray a specific type or an emotion. Rembrandt was a master at making tronies. Contemporary artist Glenn Brown (1966) took Rembrandt’s tronies as the basis for his own series. On his iPad he transformed Rembrandt’s artworks into a wild interplay of lines. He then made an etching of the new tronie. Finally, he superimposed two etchings and made the prints that are shown in this exhibition.
Experimenting with the art room
Erik Desmazières (1948) is fascinated by spaces that house collections, like libraries and wunderkammers. In 2007 he visited the Rembrandt House Museum to study Rembrandt’s art room. He made a series of prints based on it. It’s the same arrangement every time, but with some subtle changes. He printed the copper plate several times, adjusting the image slightly between each printing. Sometimes he added more shadows, sometimes some objects. He also experimented with various types of paper.
Experimenting with lines
Willem den Ouden (1928) has lived on the Waal River and studied the landscape for over fifty years. He looks at how he can capture the atmosphere of the river. With just a few lines he depicted the flowing water, the reflections of clouds and low-hanging mist. He prints his lithographs on thin Chinese paper that is glued to a sturdy sheet of paper. There is a French term for this: chine collé. This technique causes the paper to protrude slightly, creating a shimmering effect.
