Rembrandt as impulse - Teacher. Strategist. Bestseller

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 Leiden – 1669 Amsterdam) was the most important Dutch painter of the 17th century. A large number of pupils worked in his atelier for decades. By imitating his style, they contributed to his fame and the establishment of the Rembrandt "brand". Rembrandt's teaching was innovative in many respects.

With around 140 paintings, drawings and etchings by Rembrandt and his pupils, the exhibition Impulse Rembrandt offers insight into the artist’s creative work and one of the largest workshop operations of 17th century Dutch painting. It explores Rembrandt’s fascinating ability to pass on idiosyncrasies of his painting style and at the same time promote the artistic individuality of his pupils. Between 1625 and 1665, Rembrandt attracted more young artistic talent from Holland and Europe than did any other painter in Amsterdam.

The exhibition is based on the museum’s own collection, which includes works by Rembrandt’s pupils and contemporaries such as Jan Lievens, Ferdinand Bol, Gerbrand van den Eeckhout, Aert de Gelder and others, but no paintings by Rembrandt himself. Only one confirmed drawing along with etchings by the artist are in the MdbK’s Collection of Prints and Drawings. It is thus all the more delightful that, thanks to generous loans from museums in Amsterdam, London, Stockholm, Vienna and Paris as well as German collections, around 60 paintings, drawings and etchings by Rembrandt can be presented.