Jan Cornelis Sylvius 1633

Curator: This is Rembrandt van Rijn's etching, "Jan Cornelis Sylvius", held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's incredibly intimate, almost claustrophobic, with that tightly hatched background closing in. Curator: The portrait reflects Sylvius's role as a theologian; he is posed with a book, his hands clasped in what reads as either contemplation or prayer. Note Rembrandt's use of light and shadow. Editor: Yes, the process really enhances the subject's gravity. Each line is so deliberate, emphasizing texture. How was an image like this disseminated? How many prints were made? Curator: Rembrandt used the print medium to explore the gravity and weight of intellect. It is as if he sought to capture the soul within Sylvius. Editor: The materiality argues against the idea of pure intellect, though. The ink, the paper, the press – it's all very grounded. Curator: A beautiful synthesis, really, when you consider the cultural memory it evokes. Editor: Indeed, an intersection of the tangible and intangible.