Saskia with a Red Flower 1641

Rembrandt painted his wife Saskia here in the mid-1630s, using oil paints and canvas, materials that had become relatively common at the time. What's really striking is the way that Rembrandt deploys these materials. He works with a limited palette of earthy tones, ochres, and reds, which allows him to build up incredible depth and texture, layer upon layer. Look closely, and you'll notice his technique of impasto, applying paint so thickly that it stands up in peaks and ridges, catching the light. This technique shows in the fabric of Saskia’s dress, the details of her jewelry, and the soft bloom of her skin. Oil paint had become increasingly available through expanding trade networks. Rembrandt's masterful application elevates the status of these materials, transforming them into a lasting image of intimacy. Through his attention to the physical qualities of paint, Rembrandt asks us to reconsider the value of both material and labor, bridging the gap between the artisanal and the artistic.