Monday, 5 January 2015

In Praise of Rembrandt, Lightness and Darkness

Self Portrait - Rembrandt
Have you ever been to Amsterdam?

It's a fabulous city, one of my favourites in fact.  Wonderful friendly people, Art galleries, architecture, bridges, canals, flowers, fabrics, design, parks, bicycles, restaurants, fashion.  It's probably my favourite European city….and so close to Paris, London and Antwerp too.

Rembrandt's home is in Amsterdam....which is now a wonderful museum where you can wander from room to room and floor to floor imagining the Great Master at work.

It was clearly a very swish home when he bought it for his wife and family...in one of the new, up and coming areas of Amsterdam.
Upstairs at Rembrandt House….the Master's painting studio.
Recently, I finished reading a book on Rembrandt and I was struck by what an incredible man he must have been.
Innovative, talented, determined, emotional and  loving…Rembrandt was all of these.  He also loved the finer things in life...spent to match his income as many of us are tempted to do....and experienced great highs and intense lows during his lifetime.  But what a life it was!
He clearly knew he was a great artist....one of the greatest ever....and yet he saw his 'star' fall during his lifetime.

He didn't give up though....he remained true to self....continuing to paint 'real' depictions of what he felt and saw.  The 'pretty pitchas' of the day were not for him!

Inspired by Rembrandt's story and his emotive self-portraits, etchings and dry points, I created 'The Dutchman' series below....as a tribute to him.

My collages attempt to capture the fact that Rembrandt's 'artistic style' had faded from popularity....due to the fickleness of 'fashionable Art'.

So here's a sample of my white, fading pitchas of "The Dutchman".
The Dutchman III
The Dutchman IV
The Dutchman I
Soon after I completed these collages I saw an exhibition by Lindy Lee, a Chinese/Australian artist at the University of Queensland Art Museum.  She, too, has based some of her work on European Masters.

Oh my....Lindy Lee!!

Inspired by Lindy's work.....her search of discovery, her sense of freedom, lightness and darkness, my collages below are a continuation of the white, faded series….only in red!

I've made them using rich ox-blood and black inks (intense colours that seem to represent Rembrandt for me)...stroked liberally across a collaged, emotive self-portrait.

I've simply called the series "Red Rembrandt".
Red Rembrandt I
Red Rembrandt II
Red Rembrandt III
Red Rembrandt IV
Red Rembrandt V
Rembrandt...out of fashion...yes, but certainly holding firm and definitely not out!

There'll be lots more about Lindy Lee in my next 'Promenade with my Parapluie' post.

Lindy's an inspiring artist, born in Brisbane, whose style and story are rooted in her Chinese/Australian background and cultures.  For me, a most impressive artist.

Ciao

Robyn

You may also like my post on:
http://parisallons-y.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/promenade-with-my-parapluie-i-david.html
http://parisallons-y.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/amsterdam-impressions.html
arisallons-y.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/les-fleurs-and-aalsmeer.html
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14 comments:

  1. Shady Del Knight6 January 2015 at 05:34

    Hello, Robyn! This post is a Rembrandt and you are a gifted artist in your own right. Your collages are brilliant. I could gaze at them all day long! Mrs. Shady and I are art lovers. To be honest, I know precious little about art and have even less talent as an artist, yet I believe that I have the ability to recognize greatness when I see it. Mrs. Shady attended the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland. Over the years, she has produced paintings that we framed and hung on the walls of our home. Her main interests are Impressionism and portraiture. We are fortunate to live within a two hour drive of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. We have visited the museum at least a half dozen times and marveled at the massive collection of 16th to 20th century European paintings, the most celebrated being the works of Rubens. Even better is the news that Mrs. Shady and I are moving to Sarasota a couple of months from now!

    I admire those who disregard modern trends, remain passionate and true to self and continue on their chosen path. It is the same in blogging. Blog passionately about something you love even if nobody else is doing it. People will find you and follow you.

    Thank you and good night, dear friend Robyn!

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    1. Paris Rendez-vous and Beyond6 January 2015 at 12:44

      Oh Shady Del...how kind you are. I think we may just be 'kindred spirits'!! Yes, I too, endeavour to be true to self...which is always a work in progress don't you think?

      When I recommenced this blog after a 2 year respite, I was told it was 'old hat' to blog!! Anyway it seems there are lots of us who like to wear 'vintage' hats and enjoy e-connections. Bravo to us!

      And a new move to Sarasota for you both...how wonderful. Soon you'll be able to make more frequent trips to your wonderful Museum of Art Shady Del. If Mrs Shady is partial to Impressionism and portraiture then I'm sure she would love the Musée D'Orsay in Paris. I recall that I wrote a post on the Musee D'Orsay in 2012...where one can get "up close and personal" to those marvellous works of Art. Luscious and luminous....what a treat it was to wander those corridors.

      So Shady Del, we'll have to celebrate together....as you'll be moving in a couple of months....and Pierre and I are moving to our new townhouse in April!!! We'll definitely have to share a glass of champers across the oceans together!

      Waiting for your next fab musical mindteaser!!

      Ciao

      Robyn

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    2. Shady Del Knight6 January 2015 at 12:55

      I forgot to mention, Robyn, that we are also fortunate to have the Salvador Dali Museum in nearby St. Petersburg and that we have visited and taken the docent tour three times.

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    3. Paris Rendez-vous and Beyond6 January 2015 at 13:00

      Hi Shady Del.....this is the post Mrs Shady would like....on the Musée de l'Orangerie....this is my favourite gallery in Paris. http://parisallons-y.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/impressions-of-parisian-christmas.html
      Ciao
      Robyn

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    4. Paris Rendez-vous and Beyond6 January 2015 at 13:06

      Salvador Dali.....now he was a man who was true to self wasn't he Shady Del? That red lipped sofa of his!!!!!! Now THAT would look great in our new townhouse.

      Never a wallflower.....and never afraid to stand out from the crowd. Bravo Salvador!

      Sweet dreams to your Shady.

      R

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    5. Shady Del Knight6 January 2015 at 14:02

      Thank you, Robyn. I will show Mrs. Shady that Parisian post. She'll love it!

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  2. peggybraswell6 January 2015 at 08:43

    love her work + no + never been to amsterdam + must go + great post. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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    1. Paris Rendez-vous and Beyond6 January 2015 at 12:50

      Darling Peggy....thank you so much....but the 'her' is moi!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Try to get to Amsterdam Peggy....you'd adore it. The design there is incredible....right up your alley my dear. And dare I say it....better than Paris!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, I better 'temper' that statement...it's certainly on a par with Paris. So the next time you're in Paris....think about a quick train trip to Amsterdam for the day...it's merely an hour or so away!

      And if ever you should want some Brisbane, Australian Art for your glorious interiors shop...then don't forget they're merely a postage stamp away! Would love to do a special deal with vous!

      Ciao

      Robyn

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  3. Magnolia Verandah6 January 2015 at 19:04

    You have caused a little spark with this Rembrandt post - I love it.

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    1. Paris Rendez-vous and Beyond6 January 2015 at 20:33

      Thank you Magnolia Verandah....I do love his work. Lightness and darkness....and such emotion. Mine are just a little tribute to him...but I like them. You can always take one home you know!!!!!

      Ciao

      Robyn

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  4. layers6 January 2015 at 22:24

    I have not been to Amsterdam but I do wish to visit some day... what a wonderful series of Rembrandt to explore.

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    1. Paris Rendez-vous and Beyond7 January 2015 at 00:13

      So lovely of you to visit again....you would adore Amsterdam....Van Gogh, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Escher etc etc. It is one of the most captivating cities in the world.

      Looking forward to your future posts.

      Ciao

      Robyn

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  5. Anonymous8 January 2015 at 16:54

    Robyn, Rembrandt would be totally in awe of your creative talent and no doubt flattered by your remarkable tribute to him....top marks to you.....beautiful collages....Jude

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    1. Paris Rendez-vous and Beyond8 January 2015 at 18:24

      Thanks Jude….that's very kind of you. I hope the Master would be pleased!

      Ciao

      R

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