Wow! Right you are! Great images. I would also say that Rembrandt’s drawings are by far what I respond to. There are a number of painters that I like above Rembrandt, but his drawings are at the absolute top of my list of favorites. I’ve added an addendum to the post. Thanks!

Thanks for you comments. Interesting thought about the use of darks. Hmmm…

I think the technology, particular the photographic technology, is certainly improving in terms of delivering better reproductions of artists’ works in print, particularly in view of the superb reproductions posted on the Rijksmuseum site, as Lok points out in the comment after yours.

That level of quality and attention to detail in the reproduction of drawings seems rare, however, and drawings suffer even more than paintings in reproduction.

Also, there are some characteristics of paintings, notably light reflecting off of the surface of opaque paint through layers of transparent glazes, that are actual physical optical effects and cannot be adequately conveyed in flattened images.

On the other hand, I certainly agree that you can get a great deal from images of works, they still have a power and presence that shows them for what they are. Even given my preference for seeing the real works whenever possible, I would still have to say the most of the art I have seen and know about is from photographic reproductions.

Yeah. Didn’t have a self-portrait with six-gun.

Readers will want to check out Brian Moore Draws, which features his charming watercolor illustrations, comics and cartoons.

You’re right, I think if you took a survey of countries and ranked them by great artists per capita, the Dutch would come out on top.

Other readers should check out doodle.nl, Arne van der Ree’s portfolio of illustration, comics, portraits and more.

Glad you think your readers will enjoy the post, thanks.

lines and colors readers will want to check out Nita Leland’s site, Exploring Color and Creativity, which is full of great resources.

Leland’s new book, New Creative Artist is available now from Amazon and can be ordered from your local indpendent bookstore or chain bookstore.

“Rembrandt’s paintings, etchings and drawings are impressive enough in books and online reproductions, but you must see them in person to understand.”

They *are* impressive enough. It’s always exasperating when a well meaning friend tells me that I must see my art heroes in person. I’ve heard a similar notion expressed by fellow Vietnam Veterans who say “you had to be there to understand”. I disagree. If one knows the principles (in art the media and techniques), seeing the art in books is good enough, just as reading a book or seeing a movie about the VN war (though none have been produced that show the key to understanding, i.e., universality) could make it understandable to any intelligent reader.

I’ve seen the Rembrandt self-portrait in the Indianapolis Museum. Not close up–there’s a chain keeping one some distance away. Still, with good eyes then, I admit there’s something about seeing it in person, some aura surrounding knowing that the master saw deeper than my own eyes can fathom.

I laughed out loud at the rootin’-tootin’ description, contrasted with his scowlin’ self-portrait with the palette.