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Rembrandt's Self-Portrait
Rembrandt's self-portraits in his later years use space, light and color to depict the profound inner state of the characters, and convey to us the tranquility and mystery of the ultimate place of the human soul (As shown in figure 1). This is the greatest shock to us from his art. His self-portraits in his later years depict himself in the depths of his soul, with profound spiritual connotations. And I think an ordinary object also has its own unique spiritual connotation. Although my creation explores objects in reality, I believe that every object in reality has expressions and souls just like people. I usually draw objects as people, because people have expressions and emotions, and I want to express the expressions and emotions of objects.
In my painting Green, Yellow (As shown in figure 2), I paint these two chairs as people, I think they are emotional and alive, so this painting has a symbolic meaning, these two chairs may be a couple , or lovers. This is the feeling I want to convey to the audience through my works, expressing the ordinary objects in an unusual way, injecting personal special emotions and meanings, and expressing the spiritual connotation of the objects.
Figure 1, Rembrandt, Self-portrait ,1659
86.5x66 cm
Oil on canvas
Figure 2, Wei Huang, Green, Yellow, 2021
Oil on Canvas
In his later years, Rembrandt used more direct and real language to describe his own image. At this time, Rembrandt was not entangled in the description of details, but more subjectively released his inner desires and impulses. Rembrandt's way of unleashing his heart is by stripping and presenting. What is stripped is his own spirit and flesh, his true and simple artistic attitude, and he tells his own life knowledge and mental state without any modification. Tell it to the audience, whether or not you are accused and criticized.
Figure 3 is Rembrandt's "Self-Portrait as Apostle St. Paul" created in 1661. In the paintings of this period, Rembrandt was more ecstatic in the use of light. The technique of using light and shade to shape characters is more skilled. In the picture, the light is mainly focused on the head in the upper left corner and part of the book in the lower right corner. This diagonal shading treatment gives a very mysterious and dramatic effect. In the vast darkness, the detailed depiction of the face is impressive, with the wrinkled face, firm eyes, and pursed lips, which make the self-portrait more vivid. The unique creative technique of this painting is called the "purple-gold dark"rendering method,
Figure 3, Rembrandt, Rembrandt as St Paul, 1661, 91x77 cm, Oil on canvas
which enhances the clarity of the facial expressions of the characters in the picture. The corner of his mouth seems to be a contempt for life.
Why do his paintings move the audience? Because of his sincere and meticulous description of the picture, I feel that every place is depicted by him with true feelings, and every part of his works is alive. What we see is not only his paintings, but also what the pictures convey. out of the spiritual connotation. In short, to draw a picture well is to be honest with it and the object you are depicting.
Reference
Harmenszoon, R. (1659) Self-portrait [Oil on Canvas]. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Harmenszoon, R. (1661) Rembrandt as St Paul [Oil on Canvas]. National Gallery of Art, Washington
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