Organised to mark the 2000th anniversary of his death on 19 August 14 AD, the exhibition in Frankfurt presents the stages in the story of Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606–1669). As a painter of exceptional portraits and history paintings he ienjoys world fame. Yet there was another subject that also preoccupied him throughout his career: landscape. The Dutch painter addressed himself to this theme not so much in painting, but all the more intensively in drawing and printmaking. The presentation will feature sixty-two works, including forty-six etchings. The artist’s pure landscape etchings will be supplemented in the show by further works. The latter include etched self-portraits, early etchings in which landscapes are depicted in connection with history motifs and depictions of pastoral scenes which Rembrandt encountered with a perceptible sense of humour. Other prints to be presented are engravings, woodcuts and etchings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (ca. 1525–1569) Domenico Campagnola (ca. 1500–1564), Hendrick Goltzius (1558–1616), Hercules Seghers (ca. 1590–ca. 1638) and Claude Lorrain (1600–1682). Theu will place Rembrandt’s works into the context of his forerunners and contemporaries in the area of landscape in printmaking.
