(Leiden) Rembrandt’s early works, painted when the Dutch master was just 18, will soon be exhibited together for the first time in his hometown of Leiden in the western Netherlands.
The De Lakenhal Museum in Leiden, located a stone’s throw from where Rembrandt’s (1606-1669) workshop must have been, presented the four paintings on Thursday to journalists.
These works are part of a series illustrating the senses: “The Glasses Seller (Sight)”, “The Three Singers (Hearing)”, “The Unconscious Patient (Smell)” and “The Operation ( touch) “.
Curiously, no fifth Rembrandt in the series – “Taste” – has been found.
“It’s very mysterious. We are almost sure that Rembrandt made five paintings in this series, because there are five senses and not four,” museum curator Janneke van Asperen told AFP.
“We have no idea where he might be. Maybe it’s still there somewhere, in an attic. Or maybe he disappeared. We of course hope to find it,” she added.
The works show that, even from a young age, Rembrandt was willing to break with convention, according to the museum. At the time, the senses were usually represented by elegant female figures.
“The talent we see in these works is already quite exceptional,” observes Mme Van Asperen.
However, certain aspects of the paintings are clearly the work of a very inexperienced painter, such as the representation of the heads, she notes.
These early works show signs of what would become Rembrandt’s signature, such as broad brushstrokes and the use of chiaroscuro, an oil technique involving strong contrasts between dark and light, to create three-dimensional figures with dramatic effect.
“Of course he will become a master and here we see the beginning of it,” said the curator.
“We look forward to introducing Dutch and international visitors to the very first works by his hand and the talent that the artist already demonstrated at such a young age,” said museum director Tanja Elstgeest.
The works are on display to the public from January 20 to June 16.