Rembrandt in Heaven c. 1948 - 1958

Curator: What a mysterious gathering. It makes me think of figures in a fever dream, all painted in these earth tones. Editor: This is Henryk Gotlib’s "Rembrandt in Heaven" currently housed here at the Tate. Gotlib, who lived from 1890 to 1966, seems to be placing Rembrandt at the center of an imagined community. Curator: He’s there, right? The figure with the crown of thorns, looking utterly despondent. It’s like he's mourning the state of art itself. Editor: Or perhaps Gotlib positions Rembrandt within a lineage of suffering, associating artistic genius with worldly pain—a problematic myth. Are we romanticizing the struggles of male artists? Curator: It’s definitely a romantic vision. I mean, heaven? But maybe Gotlib's playing with that idea, questioning the elevation of artists. Editor: It's fascinating how Gotlib uses this imagined space to explore the complexities of artistic legacy. Curator: A community of artists, what a thought! Editor: It certainly makes you wonder who we choose to celebrate and why.