In addition to his paintings that have fascinated generations, Rembrandt’s artistic legacy includes 300 graphic works. These were created using the etching technique, executed with remarkable precision for that time. The copper plates the artist prepared as matrices for these prints have their own unique story. After the painter’s death, they fell into obscurity and were lost. Only two centuries later, thanks to the determination of two notable 19th-century figures in the French art world — engraver and graphic artist Amand Durand and Louvre director Georges Duplessis — some of these plates were rediscovered, restored, and preserved to survive to the present day.
At the time, Rembrandt’s existing copper plates were so dirty and scratched that restoring the prints seemed almost impossible. Durand painstakingly developed a special technique for conservation and restoring their original state, achieving this between 1865 and 1867. The prints made by Amand Durand were produced on high-quality handmade paper, which is one of the reasons they are considered unparalleled in their brilliance and clarity.
The exhibition of 278 original prints by Rembrandt van Rijn from the late 1865 edition by Amand Durand is the first such extensive display in Poland of the graphic work of the 17th-century master.
The themes of the exhibited prints reflect Rembrandt’s most characteristic interests. Visitors can see his famous self-portraits, genre scenes, Dutch landscapes, biblical motifs, and portraits of notable townspeople as well as common beggars. Each work showcases the artistry of its creator, evident in masterful perspective, perfect composition, insightful depiction of subjects, and the expressiveness of the genre scenes. The selection includes works considered the most spectacular achievements of the artist’s graphic oeuvre.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born on July 15, 1606, in Leiden. A Dutch painter, printmaker, and draftsman, he was a master of light and an outstanding portraitist, leaving behind approximately 700 oil paintings, 300 prints, and about 2,000 drawings. Rembrandt’s graphic art inspired followers even during his lifetime, and the influence of these prints continues to resonate in art today. His famous etchings, created with extraordinary precision for their time, are now among the most sought-after works of art worldwide. He passed away on October 4, 1669, in Amsterdam.
