Rembrandt van Rijn is widely regarded as the greatest painter of the Dutch Golden Age and one of the most important in European art history. Born in Leiden, he moved to Amsterdam where he became a sought-after portraitist and history painter. His revolutionary use of chiaroscuro — dramatic contrasts of light and dark — gave his figures psychological depth and physical presence. He was a prolific etcher and draughtsman as well as painter, producing nearly 300 paintings, nearly 300 etchings, and around 2,000 drawings. His later self-portraits form one of the most penetrating records of aging in art history. Despite early success, he died bankrupt, having spent extravagantly on art and curiosities.
