The Jewish Bride by Rembrandt

Upon first looks, The Jewish Bride by Rembrandt has an ambient feel to the painting. Showcasing warm tones such as browns, oranges, off whites, etc…, it is similar to the traditional paintings that we see in museums, paintings such as the Mona Lisa.

When we observe this painting, we notice light coming from a side of the painting itself, specifically from the left side. We also notice how there are parts of the painting that are brighter than some other points due to the point where the light hits, depending on where the light is faced. Just like how the sun hits objects, there will be a part of that object that is bright, and the other part is dark, and don’t forget the shadow that comes into effect from the lighting. The use of lighting gives us a “depth” of feel into the painting, similar to a day-to-day setting.

Take it as to how the Sun revolves around the Earth, or how we have night and day. We experience what we see in paintings like this and we can apply it to the painting, which is how we somehow relate to the painting, we know that this painting is something real, something that is made from history. Here we can see several principles such as the balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and the unity of the painting. These harmony of these principles are what complete the idea of a painting. These are what we observe, the use of these principles can also help determine if a painting is successful, or if a painting is finished, or not. The amount of value present can shift the feeling and environment inside a painting, an example of this would be an artwork entitled “Supper at Emmaus” which was created by Caravaggio. This painting is a perfect example of how the values of tones and lighting in a painting can affect its overall feeling/meaning. The dark tones and the dim-lighting cause a dramatic effect that affects the viewer directly. In relation to this painting by Rembrandt, the values he played with cause the artwork to radiate a feeling of intimacy and tenderness, as you can see the man has his hands placed on the woman’s chest while she in turn holds it. The lighting in the painting helps set the environment around the subjects thus making the entire scene more dramatic, the dark tones around the main subjects show hierarchy in the painting, this then leads to the bright tones and lighting catching the eyes of the viewers removing clutter in order for the viewer to fully observe the emotions displayed in the situation.

The values and the arrangement of the painting of Rembrandt are simply just immaculate, and showcases a glimpse of their era. From the use of ambient colors, and as well as the use of the lighting from a certain point of view to focus on to the main subject of the painting, your eyes are guided where they need to be. The colors used have strong contrast and painting fully emphasizes the overall ambient feel of the painting. When comparing it to the modern paintings, we could definitely differentiate them. A notable observation was that the couple in the painting were rendered with period correct outfits as well, and so are the designs of the houses. Rembrandt’s form of painting of the man’s hand gently resting on his wife shows not a sign of lust, but affection. Between the couple, there is a lightness of physical contact which suggests a deep loving innocence. Historical paintings like this were also common during Rembrandt’s time (17th century). If I could mention as well, the form and how this painting was made is completely different as well compared to how paintings are being done today.

References

• Beranek, S. (n.d.). Rembrandt, The Jewish Bride. Retrieved September 17, 2020. pp. 1–2
• The Jewish Bride by Rembrandt. (n.d.). Retrieved from September 17, 2020, from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-paintings/jewish-bride-rembrandt.htm