A chance to see Rembrandt's rarities

Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn is hailed as one of the greatest painters in the history of European art. However, this month it is his printworks and sketches that are set to steal the show.

The National Museum is exhibiting over 30 of Rembrandt's prints and around 180 drawings, which come exclusively from Polish collections. The pieces span the timeline of his career and steadily document his artistic development and change in style, which was often emulated by his students.

Rembrandt is well-known for his lucid artistic style and confidence in experimenting with new techniques, a freedom which ran straight against the grain of the paint palette in the 17th century. His sketch work is no exception. One of the main aims of the exhibition is to celebrate Rembrandt's 'all-rounder' nature. This is not to say he was a jack-of-all-trades in his sketching; his excellence is particularly noted in the depiction of biblical scenes, landscapes, portraits and self-portraits.

Rembrandt was an avid collector, having amassed a considerable archive of art pieces, prints and other rarities, a probable cause of his bankruptcy in 1656. He died 13 years later and thus the collector became the collected.

The exhibition, which runs until December 3, represents a rare opportunity to view a different angle of Rembrandt's work in Poland.

Victoria Baghdjian

For further details see www.mnw.art.pl