Rembrandt: The Sign and the Light Exhibition

Sat, Dec 7 - Sun, Feb 2  2020

The Society of the Four Arts presents the North American debut of “Rembrandt: The Sign and the Light” on view from December 7, 2019 through February 2, 2020.

“The Sign and The Light” commemorates the 350th anniversary of the death of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 – 1669), the most prominent artist of the Dutch Golden Age. The exhibition presents a comprehensive overview of Rembrandt’s print oeuvre with 69 prints dating from 1629 to the last print he made in 1665. Collectively, they reveal how his innovations in printmaking — specifically, etching — helped immortalize him as one of the most accomplished printmakers of all time.

Rembrandt created over 300 prints throughout his career, and they were widely circulated in the Netherlands and across Europe during his lifetime. “The Sign and The Light” features his most famous prints, including self-portraits and portraits of family and friends to Old and New Testament stories, landscapes, and genre scenes. They show his mastery of intaglio printmaking, the evolution of his style, and his rebellious approach to artmaking. He frequently reworked his etched images, making new versions called “states,” sometimes over ten times. Rembrandt also experimented with inks and papers, all of which increased the popularity and collectability of his prints.

Magnifying classes will allow viewers to experience the fine details of these spectacular prints up close and display cases and hands-on interactive areas also provide an opportunity to learn about Rembrandt’s printmaking process. The displays and interactive areas were created in collaboration with IS Projects, a public-access printmaking and book arts studio in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. To learn more about IS Projects, please visit www.isprojectsfl.com.

New this season, The Four Arts will offer 45-minute docent-led gallery talks of the exhibition. The guided tours are free with gallery admission. Visitors may also take a self-guided tour on their personal smartphones at no additional charge.

The Four Arts will host a variety of additional education programs related to the exhibition. Sign-up online at www.fourarts.org to hear world-renowned artists and scholars discuss “Stealing Rembrandt” (January 2), “Art Around Rembrandt: Dutch Golden Age Paintings in the Rijksmuseum” (January 6) and “From Novice to Art Market Innovator: Rembrandt’s Extraordinary Career as a Printmaker” (January 8). Additional events will be announced.

Rembrandt van Rijn Dutch, 1606 – 1669 The Descent from the Cross, about 1633 Etching and buri

ABOUT THE SOCIETY OF THE FOUR ARTS
Since its founding in 1936, The Society of the Four Arts offers a dynamic lineup of cultural programming, including notable speakers, concerts, films, educational programs, and art exhibitions. The campus is home to beautiful sculpture and botanical gardens, a library and children’s library, and a state-of-the-art educational facility. The Four Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity and all programs are open to the public. For more information please visit www.fourarts.org. The Society of the Four Arts is located at 100 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach, FL 33480.