Master's work on view at museum
PITTSBURGH — In honor of Rembrandt's 400th birthday, a selection of the master's etchings will be on view Saturday through Feb. 11 at the Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Ave.
"Rembrandt's Great Subjects: Prints from the Collection" showcases 60 etchings from the museum's collection of the artist's work, displaying his renowned printmaking skills and examining some of his most famous motifs, such as self-portraiture and portraiture, religion, mythology, landscape, genre scenes and figure studies.
Works come from the 1630s, 1640s and 1650s, three most interesting decades from his long and illustrious career.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born in Leiden, the Netherlands, on July 15, 1606, to a wealthy miller and his wife.
In 1621, Rembrandt embarked upon a three-year apprenticeship with Jacob Isaacszoon van Swanenburgh, a painter famous for his intense religious scenes and his ability to render dramatic lighting.
He went on to train with Pieter Lastman, an artist also known for the depiction of religious and historical subject matter.
In 1625, Rembrandt began his independent career and painted his earliest known dated painting, "The Stoning of St. Sebastian."
It is estimated that one year later, in 1626, the young and talented artist made his first etchings, although his earliest dated prints are inscribed 1628.
By the 1630s, he was living in Amsterdam and was in the early stages of a highly successful career as an artist and art teacher.
From the beginning of his career, Rembrandt's skill as an etcher was as respected as his skill as a painter, at least partly because of his penetrating interest in evoking and depicting human emotion.
The prints in this exhibition demonstrate the evolution of Rembrandt's style and methodology, and the innovation of his techniques can be seen in the astonishing detail of his etchings.
Programs include a Rembrandt's Birthday Party from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 3, free with museum admission.
Participants will discover the artist's range of techniques and themes in the exhibition.
They will also meet with the curator in the gallery, watch a demonstration of Rembrandt's hallmark printmaking techniques, and design hats inspired by those in Rembrandt's self-portraits.
Finally, they will learn a Dutch birthday song and try Dutch treats.
Other programs are Drop-in Family Art Activities on Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 2 to Jan. 15, and Drop-in Tours from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays through Jan. 15 and 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays starting Jan. 16.
These programs are free with museum admission, which is $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, and $6 for students and children.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays; closed most Mondays and major holidays.
For more information, call 412-371-0600.
