Nathan Admonishing David 1650 - 1655

Rembrandt van Rijn, likely in Amsterdam, used pen and brown ink to realize 'Nathan Admonishing David.' This medium, economical and readily available, belies the intensity of the narrative. You can see the artist's rapid strokes delineating form and shadow. But look closer: the ink’s viscosity allows for bold, dark lines that convey weight and importance, alongside lighter washes, applied using a brush, to soften textures and create depth. The immediacy afforded by ink on paper is pivotal. It allowed Rembrandt to quickly capture the emotional tension between the prophet Nathan and King David. You can sense the weight of Nathan's words and David's remorse in the contrast between their figures. Pen and ink, although seemingly simple, enables a powerful depiction of moral reckoning, challenging any hierarchy between 'high art' and the direct expression of human drama.