Rembrandt 1632: Creation of a Brand at Wilhelmshöhe Palace
The exhibition 'Rembrandt 1632: Creation of a Brand' at Wilhelmshöhe Palace in Kassel, Germany, argues that Rembrandt's move from Leiden to Amsterdam in 1632 marked his deliberate transformation into a self-branded celebrity. The show features two self-portraits from that year: one with a steel gorget and dramatic lighting, and another more intense portrait with his face in shadow. It also includes a coda displaying Rembrandt-branded merchandise like tobacco, toothpaste, and a television. The exhibition highlights Rembrandt's prolific output in 1632, including etchings, history paintings, portraits, and tronies.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Rembrandt 1632: Creation of a Brand' is at Wilhelmshöhe Palace in Kassel, Germany.
- The exhibition argues Rembrandt deliberately built his brand in 1632 when he moved from Leiden to Amsterdam.
- Two self-portraits from 1632 are featured: one with a steel gorget, another with a brown jacket and shadowed face.
- A coda displays Rembrandt-branded products: tobacco, toothpaste, and a television.
- Rembrandt was voluminously productive in 1632, making etchings, history paintings, portraits, and tronies.
- The exhibition is set in a purple-walled corridor in the Old Master-encrusted palace.
- The self-portrait with the brown jacket has highlights scratched into wet paint to reveal red ground.
- The exhibition pinpoints Rembrandt's transformation into a first-name-only celebrity facing the Amsterdam art market.
Entities
Artists
- Rembrandt van Rijn
- Nicolaes Eliasz Pickenoy
Institutions
- Wilhelmshöhe Palace
- Hyperallergic
Locations
- Kassel
- Germany
- Utrecht
- Netherlands
- Leiden
- Amsterdam