Standbeeld van Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn op het Rembrandtplein te Amsterdam 1852 - 1854

J.L. Lacoste created this print of the statue of Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn in Rembrandtplein, Amsterdam. It's fascinating to consider how Rembrandt, a master of portraying the human condition, becomes immortalized in bronze. The choice to erect a statue reflects the desire to solidify a particular narrative around artistic genius. Yet, we might ask, whose stories are being told, and whose are being left out? This statue prompts us to reflect on the very nature of public commemoration: who gets remembered, and how? What does it mean to elevate one artist above others, especially when we consider the social hierarchies and power dynamics inherent in the art world, both then and now? As we stand before this image, we are invited to consider the complex layers of history, identity, and representation.