It's absolutely huge, but it was even bigger to begin with. Somewhere along the course of history some jackass ordered for large chunks of the sides to be cut of - probably so it could fit to be hung in a clubhouse. We know this from the original sketch Rembrandt made and the marks on the sides of the canvas. Quite sad
Really? That sounds far fetched. I can't believe someone would do that for any reason. Are you sure that evidence (marks, sketch) absolutely confirms your theory? Do we have definitive proof? Maybe he just didn't do the painting in the same way he made the sketch, and maybe those marks have another explanation?
Good point, I wonder if that was Van Gogh's goal. To make everybody feel like they could start painting...even though we will never even come close to Rembrandt
I took Art History last year and this video should be shown in schools. It was so well researched and you deserve all the praise for making me care about Art History. No joke
My daughter was just in Amsterdam and took a photo of it. They’ve left in hanging in the gallery whilst doing restoration. There were scaffolds surrounding it. I, too, was not aware of how large the painting is.
Rembrandts, The Classic Car, Music, Literature. They are all superb reasons for simulation theory. Wouldn't you want to know more about our civilisation if you found an extinct Earth? Wouldn't AI of tommorow recreate their time of rise?
A DEMON’S TWIST RUSTS his ability to make a still subject like a painting visually interesting will never stop fascinating me. Some would only zoom in on what they noticed. Evan goes above and beyond
I love the darkness with which you start the video, the distant strings, and how the darkness then peels away to reveal the hand in the painting. It's as if we're walking down a dark corridor and we come upon this scene, a glimpse of a time and people long since gone. And there's the hand from the past, beckoning to us. Really, fantastic. I love the editing of your latest art videos as much as I love the content. Absolutely spot on.
I didn't know the history of it, but I have seen this piece at the Rijksmuseum when it re-opened, and there is something grandiose about this painting. The panting itself is huge, but the feeling you get from it is breathtaking.
I just stumbled on your channel. So excited. I am an art teacher and your upbeat, rich, profound way of unfolding art is captivating. The way you talk about Art history really brings time periods and artists alive. Thank you for your passion and time spent on making quick, quality films. Keep it up!
I was 17 when I first saw the Night Watch in Amsterdam, and even at that naive age I was able to be lost in its greatness. To me, that just shows how truly majestic, memorable and grand it is.
Everytime I'd have been privileged enough to be in a museum and see a painting by Rembrandt, it has moved me almost to tears. I went the museum in Amsterdam to see this masterpiece and no joke I stood in front of it until I forgot about time. The same happened to me in the Metropolitan Museum when I was 14 seeing "Aristotle with a Bust of Homer". The details, the shadows, the feelings, everything is amazing
I never saw what was so special about Rembrandt paintings with chaotic claques of people. You made me see how innovative this painting is. But it's intimate individual portraits that always make me fall in love with Rembrandt. His self-portraits are very good, like the one in 4:46. And the ones that give me goose-pimples because they're so wrought with love and emotion are like the portrait at 4:53. You can feel the pain, the tears, the shock, the regret, the years, that burden this old man. It's almost magical, how Rembrandt can do this 400 years later. (My favorite painting by Rembrandt that struck me so hard I almost cried is "The Return of the Prodigal Son".) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_the_Prodigal_Son_(Rembrandt)
I remember going into the Rijksmuseum to check this painting out and just starting at it for at least half an hour. I would look at it more but my friend got bored and hurried me to other rooms. So now I have a good reason to go back, to finish admiring this masterpiece!
I simply wanted to point out how amazing and how much I love the tassle on the Lieutenant's partisan. You could go over this entire piece and find many similarly awesome details but that tassle, whoo, it just does it for me!
There are just 2 people in the painting, the Lt. and the dude in white, they are having a coversation about the past and that´s why everything in the back is blurry. The background represents the conversation topics; the war (with the 3 dudes from the manual of using guns), the gatherings with musicians, some friends of his and a girl. The woman in the picture is maybe highlighted due to being the focus of attention of the speaker. The subjects depict a very likely conversation one could have with an old friend about the good old days. (just a theory)
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for giving us another video about a painting and art in general! A grossly underserved genre on youtube that your videos are perfect for, to explain and illuminate things a casual art-fan would not have deciphered on their on and in order to bring more people into that world. We need more of these!! (great video btw)
I was just at the Rijksmuseum last week looking at this painting! It is really so mind-blowing to see it in real life. When I got home, I immediately checked if you had done a video essay on it - I was disappointed that you did not but here it is finally! Again, another excellent video. :) Rembrandt is truly a master of the canvas.
I've seen this in Amsterdam three times. The last time, a few years ago, I went through all the aisles leading up to the picture, which is on the far wall. You can see it as soon as you enter the room, and most people walk straight up to it. But by going through all the other period works, I got a sense of "genre", for those guild group portraits, making "Nightwatch" stand out even more for its unique quality. I got the sense that other artists painted guild members looking heroic and civil. Rembrandt painted them TRYING to look heroic and civil.
Being in Washington DC once some years back, I was able to visit the National Gallery and view a number of Rembrandt paintings. More than any other artist's work, these made me feel as if that was a real person pictured, one that might reach out of the canvas and shake my hand. It wasn't a bit weird or creepy, just intensely engaging. I understood at that point why he is considered such a great painter, and after watching this video I appreciate his work even more.
I've been to the Rijksmuseum three times, and this is the painting that I spent the most time viewing. The reflection from the breastplate is truly a masterful piece of painting in itself.
the way nerdwriter makes you invested and care about the topic of the video within a minute or two of it starting, no matter if the subject is presumably interesting or presumably boring, is absolutely amazing
Rembrant spent 4 years to paint this masterpiece and the best part is that he knew from that time that it was indeed a masterpiece. However the captain, who commissioned it, was not happy at all about this painting as he thought it was not fancy enough. Captain: “the girls, who is no one and some stupid dog is more evident in the painting then most of the other guards!” Let alone what the guards thought when they saw rhe paining 🤦🏻♀️ (According to Rembrant biography, written by Gledis Schmidt”) But we are so happy to have this gorgeous piece of art still among us up to this day and continuing to appreciate it.
Hahaha nice one. Although he is correct as well as in American English curriculums is the plural. However, academically speaking, you are correct. But you both are damn smart.
I saw this painting in person about a month ago. It’s waaaayyyy bigger than most people may think it is. In fact, part of the painting is missing due to the fact that about 200 years ago, a rich man bought it for his house. But the painting covered a bit of a doorframe in his house, so he ordered a couple of carpenters to cut the painting to make it fit.
Wonderful video, my first association looking at this painting (not knowing of it prior to this video) was that this looked like a scene from a movie ! The movement, intentional ‘zooming in’ and blurring out... just wonderful!
Most pre-Impressionism paintings are. Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People" is also huge. I wonder if that was because bigger paintings allow for more details.
Your passion for art has inspired me to look at it deeper myself. Most of my life, I took paintings for granted instead of trying to absorb something more than a picture. Keep up your work and thank you.
Thanks so much! I'm from Holland and I have seen this painting at the Rijksmuseum, but I never really understood what it is that makes this painting so special. Now I see! You're one of my favourite UA-camrs!
Hi Evan, Let me preface by saying I'm a big fan, no doubt you've heard it before many times over. I firmly believe that what you do shows the vast potential the internet has, and how we owe a lot to individuals such as yourselves who realise it. The internet can truly inspire, and you guys provide the direction in which that inspiration goes towards, the ones we aspire to seek. This video is no exception, as are the other videos you've posted here. Standalone, they are truly works of art. As a collection, it is a masterpiece. Much like the painting you speak of in this video. One that can be revisited on numerous occasions to even study the nuances and personalities the artist leaves behind in the subject matter he produces. How you are so knowledgable in several subjects amazes me, and inspires me to continuously seek out means to understand my surroundings, both past and present, with more clarity. With that being said, I must admit that I have humbly arrived in your comment section with a request: I was interested on your take on Nike's stance regarding Colin Kaepernick appearing as the face of their recent campaign, and how they have followed their tradition in using their campaigns to bring to light political and sociological deficits (or is that too harsh of a word?) in society. I was really keen to hear your views/ knowledge of anything in this area, if any. If you were interested, or if it was relevant at all, these were my views. Obvious don't-read-past-here alert. One can say they are almost pressuring and forcing the need for change, finding a means to do so through individuals who could make it happen: politicians. Effectively, we have with us here, a giant corporation birthed, raised and now effectively part of a dominance within the capitalist system, influencing policy in government, except this time for the greater good (morally, ethically etc) and not for personal gain of wealth e.g. tobacco, financial institutions. Or am I being too lenient/ unfair toward one of the sides in this argument?
Man, this just reminded of me of the few times I've been able to see Rembrandt's in person. They left the deepest impression on me because of all the details. I hope to see more, longer art essays from you.
I got to see this painting in person at the Rijksmuseum once. It took my breath away. I'd seen pictures of it in art books, but seeing the real thing is an experience I can't really explain, but it's a good experience.
can you please analyze "Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16th, 1581" by Ilya Yefimovich Repin? It's pretty straight forward yet emotionally gripping.
It's interesting to learn about this other interpretation of the motion in this painting. The way the Rijksmuseum sees it, which is where this painting hangs, is that the man in the front just gave a command to get ready, and everyone is just moving to come into action. That interpretation is much more proud.
Wow, first of all thanks fort that great video! I´m studying history of art in Germany and once wrote a thesis about the Dutch group portrait, especially the ones of civic guards. I never would have thought to see the paintings of Dirck Jacobsz, Frans Badens and Frans Hals on UA-cam. So, for those of you, that want a bit more input here it comes. The civil guards of the 15th Century were relicts of the medieval ages in Amsterdam. They separated themselves into 3 groups: the ones who used firearms, the ones who used crossbows and the archers. To be part of these groups wasn´t some sort of duty, it was a privilege and only the upper-class was able to afford it. With it came a civic pride and the urge to secure the city and it´s structures against troublemakers from inside and outside of it´s walls. The painting at 1:21 was made by Dirck Jacobsz in 1529 and is supposedly the first group portrait of one of the civic guards. As you can see is the composition of it quite different to Rembrandts “The Night Watch”. The Reason for that, is that everyone that´s been painted, paid the same price as the others and therefore wanted to be shown equal to the rest of the group. Only the gestures of the men show who´s been their captain. The aim of the painter was to create a group portrait consisting of a bunch of single portraits. In 1580 the society in Amsterdam changed drastically. The civic guards as groups of volunteers were militarized and it became every mans duty to help and defend the city. The organization of them changed and the more money you had, the higher your rank could get. With that in mind the representation of colonels, captains and lieutenants in paintings was no more bound to reservation. As a result of that, paintings like the ones at 1:00 by Frans Hals and Peter Codde developed, in which these ranks got more and more into focus. Now the amount the portrayed paid wasn´t anymore equally shared but still everyone paid his share and still the group portrait consisted of single portraits of individuals that were distinguishable from another. When Rembrandt presented his work in 1642 to his clients they weren´t exactly happy with what he had produced. Just imagine paying to be portrayed in a group portrait and then having the arm of some other dude painted right in front of your face like the guy at 2:09. At the same time a girl, who obviously didn´t pay anything, is in the focus. I´d be pissed too. Rembrandt´s painting orientates itself not to its own tradition of the genre but to the Italian way of portraying groups: with a story. You could argue that it shows a historic action or a daily ritual and therefore is a genre painting. But there is no evidence of Captain Frans Banning Cocq´s Company ever doing some sort of parade or exodus of the city like it´s shown in the painting. It is indeed the portraiture of a past civic guard but at the same time it is not. With them vanishing 8 years later you could say though that Rembrandt´s “Night Watch” is their exodus of the genre. If you ever want to read more about that topic I highly recommend Alois Riegl´s “The Group Portraiture of Holland”. books.google.co.uk/books?id=O75DAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA3#v=onepage&q&f=false
Exquisite. A great example of how different forms of art (cinema and painting) still adhere to the same rules. The "Master of light" is my new inspiration
Literal. Chills. I'm so glad you're doing art videos again! Your video on Goya LITERALLY made me go to Madrid and see it in person. What an experience. Thank you!
I love these civic guard portraits. Also love that each person paid to have themselves put in it. They were all "photoshopped"(in modern language) in one at a time, and that some took months and years. Can you imagine?
🇳🇱 A B E L I N S T A A T O M 🇫🇷 Can you answer-now knocking on Gekoloniseerd Door- And translate for all of us, ‘just who’s dare?’ Ik Heb DRiE AnDEREN Rembrandt Geplaatst Voor- Now MAYA’s wordplay’s least murderous, that I’m aware. ua-cam.com/video/YmLCn21iuTA/v-deo.html
Nice fact: it used to be larger, but they moved it in 1715, and it was cut smaller to fit on a wall inside the palace on Dam Square.. I stood in front of this painting so many times, and every time I discover new things. The depth, and details, and the way light is used in this work is mesmerising.
Amsterdam is a great place to visit for many, many reasons but the Rijksmuseum deserves a day just for the the hall of Dutch Masters where, in an adjacent hall, this masterpiece takes up a wall. I sat and stood there admired it for what felt like a few minutes but, in fact, was nearly an hour. "Indescribable" and "you had to have been there" are what I can tell you about it. We arrived after lunch after spending the whole morning at the Van Gogh museum across the park and headed straight for that area of the museum, afraid we wouldn't have enough time to take it all in - 5 hours later, as we finished our first walk around the hall, the museum announced it was time to leave. My wife told me that as I stepped out of the hall I bowed my head and seemed to make the sign of the cross - I don't remember it that way but, then again, I know I was in awe. There are plenty of other reasons to go to Amsterdam but another walk around the Rijksmuseum's hall of Dutch Masters is what's going to take me back there. When we get around to "The Fighting Temeraire" I'll describe what it felt like during my first, second, third, fourth and fifth visits.
The girls is Saskia, his first wife. She died before the painting was done, and one night he saw her as this little girl and decided to edit her into this painting.
"Shine shine...the light of good works shine. The watch before the City Gates, depicted in their prime. That golden light, all grimy now. Three hundred years have passed. The worthy captain and his squad of troopers, standing fast."
At first I thought you had done some editing effects on the painting to achieve the in-focus out-of-focus effect until I realized that's just the painting. Incredible.
Absolutely wonderfully done essay my friend. I've been watching your videos since the beginning and I this is one of my favorites. One thing I will say you missed is that the depth of field technique you mentioned also has an academic name we painters use, it's called "Tenebrism" but having said that I actually never knew ow Rembrandt took the poses from a book on arm's use so thank you for teaching me something new about my favorite painter!
I went to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam just a few days ago and had a look at this painting. I can see how the contrasts in the Night Watch are appealing, but personally I found the Treaty of Munster (shown at 1:11 in the video) more skillfully crafted; perhaps not in composition and lighting, but in the details and realism.
Wow, this is a great video! And for me, this shows just how powerful video essays can be for engaging and educating the masses of people that would not have taken much interest in school for example.
Yes! Often enough school is disregarded cause "it's boring anyways" and teachers with poor teaching skills don't help that image at all. Interesting video essays like this bring education to a whole new level and I think that's an awesome feat of this day and age
I can’t tell you how many professors I’ve talked to about incorporating techniques used by essayist into their lecture. A voice is not engaging enough. We need visuals
FilmSwitch It's a great idea! Especially when it comes to ~ visual ~ art :)) By showing a high-res image of the painting (or anything else) you're taking about you can make everything feel more interactive. It's not just the teacher explaining, the students can now see better and maybe also come with their views on the subject. If you ask me, a projector is crucial for a good history of arts course edit: PS. Awesome channel :D
This was great. Was just in Amsterdam 2 weeks ago and gazing at this. You hit on some things not mentioned in the analysis on Rick Steve's audio tour nor in the museum-supplied details sheet.
every single time you present us with something new and it only takes a minute to dive into it . Your editting style,narration and vision is ecstatic .
Every single time I see that you have posted a video about classical art I get excited. You do an amazing work on this essays, please keep up the good work. Cheers from a friend all the way from Panama.
I didn't know anyone or anything could get me interested in art history, but here we are. I even watch your Chronos Devouring His Son video fairly often. You're doing a great job with these.
Seriously, keep up the great work, your attention for detail is incredible! It's essays like this that keep me excited for what's next. I can only imagine the process you go through in selecting your next subject of analysis.
The shot at 2:50
Holy sh*t, those details. That angle. That everything
It could be a painting in and of itself !
Please don't articulate orgasms in the UA-cam comment section
It's ridiculous that someone can paint that. But remember the original piece is 363 cm × 437 cm so it's HUGE
It's absolutely huge, but it was even bigger to begin with. Somewhere along the course of history some jackass ordered for large chunks of the sides to be cut of - probably so it could fit to be hung in a clubhouse. We know this from the original sketch Rembrandt made and the marks on the sides of the canvas. Quite sad
Really? That sounds far fetched. I can't believe someone would do that for any reason. Are you sure that evidence (marks, sketch) absolutely confirms your theory? Do we have definitive proof? Maybe he just didn't do the painting in the same way he made the sketch, and maybe those marks have another explanation?
You didn't mention the fact that Rembrandt included an image of himself in the painting. You even zoomed in on him at 3:14
Which one of them is it?
@ramzy ouadhour you can tell from the nose
No. Rembrandt is the left man with the cap just behind the left man with the helmet at 3:14 - 3:17
LMAO I JUST REALISED THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME/SIMILAR NOSE
You are right! Although the 3 of them look like Rembrandt with different mustache
"Whenever I see a Frans Hals, I feel like painting; whenever I see a Rembrandt, I feel like giving up," said Max Liebermann (1847-1935).
Yes, I think we sometimes all feel like Füssli's "The Artist's Despair Before the Grandeur of Ancient Ruins"
Good point, I wonder if that was Van Gogh's goal.
To make everybody feel like they could start painting...even though we will never even come close to Rembrandt
I took Art History last year and this video should be shown in schools. It was so well researched and you deserve all the praise for making me care about Art History. No joke
Our current society and its love of pop culture has dumbed down our times. This video shoud be shown in schools!
Seeing the painting in person really is a completely different experience than online.
I wasn't aware of its massive size, when I looked at the paint I was totally amazed!
My daughter was just in Amsterdam and took a photo of it. They’ve left in hanging in the gallery whilst doing restoration. There were scaffolds surrounding it. I, too, was not aware of how large the painting is.
Can't believe this guy painted this masterpiece AND sung the friends theme. What a man.
You should check out his tooth paste!
SANG, not sung. Sigh
@@johnlawrence2757 spoken like a person who only speaks one language
@@dovalayn I’m right, you’re wrong: start listening to your elders and betters and you might start to improve
Rembrandt is my favorite. The master of light. I reference him for cinematography all the time. This was great.
Rembrandt is the master of light
Caravaggio is the master of shadow
Rembrandts, The Classic Car, Music, Literature. They are all superb reasons for simulation theory. Wouldn't you want to know more about our civilisation if you found an extinct Earth? Wouldn't AI of tommorow recreate their time of rise?
@@burtlangoustine1 bingus
@@JasTheFagge Caravaggio is the master of both.
The art videos are back! Hell yeah!
all things fascinating Your channel looks pretty interesting too ! Subscribed !
all things fascinating About 90 percent of his videos are about art???
@@SamKlement123 i meant the painting series
all things fascinating I didn't notice you had a channel til someone else mentioned. Looks interesting. Subscribed.
Here’s hoping they keep coming!
I love what you do :]
Omggg Paint!!!!! Long time no see
Hey
He's alive!
OMG JON OMG
It’s Jon Cozart!!!
You remain the single best video essayist on UA-cam and you continue to inspire me with every single video you add to your channel.
A DEMON’S TWIST RUSTS his ability to make a still subject like a painting visually interesting will never stop fascinating me. Some would only zoom in on what they noticed. Evan goes above and beyond
You need to do an analysis of Hieronymus Bosch paintings, specially of "The Garden of Earthly Delights"
waterglass21 I’d love that. I have a huge print hung on my wall
Heck yes; it's so intricate and strange.
@aleagria03 pretty strange and weird painting indeed
Oh yeah that one’s wild!
he is with no doubt my favourite Dutch/Flemish painter and the Garden of Earthly Delights is one of the most intriguing paintings I know from all eras
I love the darkness with which you start the video, the distant strings, and how the darkness then peels away to reveal the hand in the painting. It's as if we're walking down a dark corridor and we come upon this scene, a glimpse of a time and people long since gone. And there's the hand from the past, beckoning to us.
Really, fantastic. I love the editing of your latest art videos as much as I love the content. Absolutely spot on.
I didn't know the history of it, but I have seen this piece at the Rijksmuseum when it re-opened, and there is something grandiose about this painting. The panting itself is huge, but the feeling you get from it is breathtaking.
I was with you until you said the main guy's hand shadow was cradling an emblem. It's clearly cradling his lieutenant's balls
This 'n That Studio definitely where my mind went haha
"points towards his company's function"
He clearly was alluding to his balls.
Well..his name is Coqc, sooo...maybe Rembrandt made an artsy pun?
You'd be surprised how many sexual puns there are in renaissance art
protecting his family jewels
I just stumbled on your channel. So excited. I am an art teacher and your upbeat, rich, profound way of unfolding art is captivating. The way you talk about Art history really brings time periods and artists alive. Thank you for your passion and time spent on making quick, quality films. Keep it up!
simp
"thanks for watching"
THANKS FOR MAKING.
caravaggio's "chiaroscuro" is actually tenebrism-- a sharper contrast of light and dark, popularized during the baroque era
It actually came from Da Vinci's work
I was 17 when I first saw the Night Watch in Amsterdam, and even at that naive age I was able to be lost in its greatness. To me, that just shows how truly majestic, memorable and grand it is.
This painting is such a masterpiece that the band King Crimson wrote a song about it
Everytime I'd have been privileged enough to be in a museum and see a painting by Rembrandt, it has moved me almost to tears. I went the museum in Amsterdam to see this masterpiece and no joke I stood in front of it until I forgot about time. The same happened to me in the Metropolitan Museum when I was 14 seeing "Aristotle with a Bust of Homer". The details, the shadows, the feelings, everything is amazing
I never saw what was so special about Rembrandt paintings with chaotic claques of people. You made me see how innovative this painting is. But it's intimate individual portraits that always make me fall in love with Rembrandt. His self-portraits are very good, like the one in 4:46. And the ones that give me goose-pimples because they're so wrought with love and emotion are like the portrait at 4:53. You can feel the pain, the tears, the shock, the regret, the years, that burden this old man. It's almost magical, how Rembrandt can do this 400 years later. (My favorite painting by Rembrandt that struck me so hard I almost cried is "The Return of the Prodigal Son".) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_the_Prodigal_Son_(Rembrandt)
I remember going into the Rijksmuseum to check this painting out and just starting at it for at least half an hour. I would look at it more but my friend got bored and hurried me to other rooms. So now I have a good reason to go back, to finish admiring this masterpiece!
I simply wanted to point out how amazing and how much I love the tassle on the Lieutenant's partisan. You could go over this entire piece and find many similarly awesome details but that tassle, whoo, it just does it for me!
There are just 2 people in the painting, the Lt. and the dude in white, they are having a coversation about the past and that´s why everything in the back is blurry. The background represents the conversation topics; the war (with the 3 dudes from the manual of using guns), the gatherings with musicians, some friends of his and a girl. The woman in the picture is maybe highlighted due to being the focus of attention of the speaker. The subjects depict a very likely conversation one could have with an old friend about the good old days. (just a theory)
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for giving us another video about a painting and art in general! A grossly underserved genre on youtube that your videos are perfect for, to explain and illuminate things a casual art-fan would not have deciphered on their on and in order to bring more people into that world. We need more of these!! (great video btw)
I was just at the Rijksmuseum last week looking at this painting! It is really so mind-blowing to see it in real life. When I got home, I immediately checked if you had done a video essay on it - I was disappointed that you did not but here it is finally! Again, another excellent video. :) Rembrandt is truly a master of the canvas.
I've seen this in Amsterdam three times. The last time, a few years ago, I went through all the aisles leading up to the picture, which is on the far wall. You can see it as soon as you enter the room, and most people walk straight up to it. But by going through all the other period works, I got a sense of "genre", for those guild group portraits, making "Nightwatch" stand out even more for its unique quality. I got the sense that other artists painted guild members looking heroic and civil. Rembrandt painted them TRYING to look heroic and civil.
Being in Washington DC once some years back, I was able to visit the National Gallery and view a number of Rembrandt paintings. More than any other artist's work, these made me feel as if that was a real person pictured, one that might reach out of the canvas and shake my hand. It wasn't a bit weird or creepy, just intensely engaging. I understood at that point why he is considered such a great painter, and after watching this video I appreciate his work even more.
This would have come in handy when I was younger.
why?
@@kelvinosei6368 your username checks out
is this going to be part of your "instant regret this educational playlist"?
@leo my username is super cool
YES.
I've been to the Rijksmuseum three times, and this is the painting that I spent the most time viewing. The reflection from the breastplate is truly a masterful piece of painting in itself.
Please make an essay about The Garden of Earthly Delights, Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, or Un Chien Andelieu
Le lieu du chien andalou c'est l'Andalousie, ou autrement dit: au lieu d'écrire andalieu, il faut écrire andalou.
This piece is breathtaking. I had the chance to see it in the Rijksmuseum and even got tears in my eyes.
Wonderful video!
I miss these types of essays. I also would love to see one about a poem, like before. Thank you.
the way nerdwriter makes you invested and care about the topic of the video within a minute or two of it starting, no matter if the subject is presumably interesting or presumably boring, is absolutely amazing
I never cared much for art when I was in school, but watching this series makes me feel like you're the best art teacher I never had
Rembrant spent 4 years to paint this masterpiece and the best part is that he knew from that time that it was indeed a masterpiece. However the captain, who commissioned it, was not happy at all about this painting as he thought it was not fancy enough. Captain: “the girls, who is no one and some stupid dog is more evident in the painting then most of the other guards!” Let alone what the guards thought when they saw rhe paining 🤦🏻♀️
(According to Rembrant biography, written by Gledis Schmidt”)
But we are so happy to have this gorgeous piece of art still among us up to this day and continuing to appreciate it.
We need more of these art videos. They're so well made
Thank you. It suddenly struck me that no one had ever explained this picture to me. I now love it.
1:32
I can’t believe the day has come for me to actually correct Nerdist on something, but the plural of curriculum is curricula :)
Hahaha nice one. Although he is correct as well as in American English curriculums is the plural. However, academically speaking, you are correct. But you both are damn smart.
I saw this painting in person about a month ago. It’s waaaayyyy bigger than most people may think it is. In fact, part of the painting is missing due to the fact that about 200 years ago, a rich man bought it for his house. But the painting covered a bit of a doorframe in his house, so he ordered a couple of carpenters to cut the painting to make it fit.
Wow!
You should check out two movies about the Night Watch, Nightwatching & J'Accuse, both starring Martin Freeman as Rembrandt.
for some reason I read "Morgan Freeman" and I wasn't even shocked
@@Amozmusicmaker it would have been a better fit, actually.
So I google Night Watch and found a danish movie from the 90s with Jaime Lannister :D
Rembrandt J'Accuse is *excellent*
Zedfinite *
Wonderful video, my first association looking at this painting (not knowing of it prior to this video) was that this looked like a scene from a movie ! The movement, intentional ‘zooming in’ and blurring out... just wonderful!
I dont think people realise how big this painting really is. Its 3.63 meters by 4.37 meters
They still don't realize it.
Most pre-Impressionism paintings are. Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People" is also huge. I wonder if that was because bigger paintings allow for more details.
Your passion for art has inspired me to look at it deeper myself. Most of my life, I took paintings for granted instead of trying to absorb something more than a picture. Keep up your work and thank you.
Your painting analysis videos are my absolute favorite 😄
Had the incredible experience of seeing this in person. It is an absolute masterpiece. Rembrandt’s work is breathtaking 😍
I saw this in the Rijksmuseum over the summer... absolutely stunning. And so much bigger than I realized. Truly a masterpiece.
Thanks so much! I'm from Holland and I have seen this painting at the Rijksmuseum, but I never really understood what it is that makes this painting so special. Now I see! You're one of my favourite UA-camrs!
A picture's worth a thousand words.
Hi Evan,
Let me preface by saying I'm a big fan, no doubt you've heard it before many times over. I firmly believe that what you do shows the vast potential the internet has, and how we owe a lot to individuals such as yourselves who realise it. The internet can truly inspire, and you guys provide the direction in which that inspiration goes towards, the ones we aspire to seek. This video is no exception, as are the other videos you've posted here. Standalone, they are truly works of art. As a collection, it is a masterpiece. Much like the painting you speak of in this video. One that can be revisited on numerous occasions to even study the nuances and personalities the artist leaves behind in the subject matter he produces. How you are so knowledgable in several subjects amazes me, and inspires me to continuously seek out means to understand my surroundings, both past and present, with more clarity.
With that being said, I must admit that I have humbly arrived in your comment section with a request:
I was interested on your take on Nike's stance regarding Colin Kaepernick appearing as the face of their recent campaign, and how they have followed their tradition in using their campaigns to bring to light political and sociological deficits (or is that too harsh of a word?) in society.
I was really keen to hear your views/ knowledge of anything in this area, if any. If you were interested, or if it was relevant at all, these were my views. Obvious don't-read-past-here alert.
One can say they are almost pressuring and forcing the need for change, finding a means to do so through individuals who could make it happen: politicians. Effectively, we have with us here, a giant corporation birthed, raised and now effectively part of a dominance within the capitalist system, influencing policy in government, except this time for the greater good (morally, ethically etc) and not for personal gain of wealth e.g. tobacco, financial institutions. Or am I being too lenient/ unfair toward one of the sides in this argument?
Amazing as always. I would love to see a video about Pieter Bruegel's work!
Man, this just reminded of me of the few times I've been able to see Rembrandt's in person. They left the deepest impression on me because of all the details. I hope to see more, longer art essays from you.
For a brief moment I thought you said you met Rembrandt in person XD
Please do an analysis on the Danish Skagen-painters. I’m referring to the works of P.S.Kroyer, Michael Ancher and company.
I got to see this painting in person at the Rijksmuseum once. It took my breath away. I'd seen pictures of it in art books, but seeing the real thing is an experience I can't really explain, but it's a good experience.
can you please analyze "Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16th, 1581" by Ilya Yefimovich Repin? It's pretty straight forward yet emotionally gripping.
*HELL....YES!!!* The most authentic portrayal of anguish and regret on canvas.
It's interesting to learn about this other interpretation of the motion in this painting. The way the Rijksmuseum sees it, which is where this painting hangs, is that the man in the front just gave a command to get ready, and everyone is just moving to come into action. That interpretation is much more proud.
Imagine if it had been the full painting ( it is a cropped painting)
Wow, first of all thanks fort that great video! I´m studying history of art in Germany and once wrote a thesis about the Dutch group portrait, especially the ones of civic guards. I never would have thought to see the paintings of Dirck Jacobsz, Frans Badens and Frans Hals on UA-cam.
So, for those of you, that want a bit more input here it comes. The civil guards of the 15th Century were relicts of the medieval ages in Amsterdam. They separated themselves into 3 groups: the ones who used firearms, the ones who used crossbows and the archers. To be part of these groups wasn´t some sort of duty, it was a privilege and only the upper-class was able to afford it. With it came a civic pride and the urge to secure the city and it´s structures against troublemakers from inside and outside of it´s walls.
The painting at 1:21 was made by Dirck Jacobsz in 1529 and is supposedly the first group portrait of one of the civic guards. As you can see is the composition of it quite different to Rembrandts “The Night Watch”. The Reason for that, is that everyone that´s been painted, paid the same price as the others and therefore wanted to be shown equal to the rest of the group. Only the gestures of the men show who´s been their captain. The aim of the painter was to create a group portrait consisting of a bunch of single portraits.
In 1580 the society in Amsterdam changed drastically. The civic guards as groups of volunteers were militarized and it became every mans duty to help and defend the city. The organization of them changed and the more money you had, the higher your rank could get. With that in mind the representation of colonels, captains and lieutenants in paintings was no more bound to reservation. As a result of that, paintings like the ones at 1:00 by Frans Hals and Peter Codde developed, in which these ranks got more and more into focus. Now the amount the portrayed paid wasn´t anymore equally shared but still everyone paid his share and still the group portrait consisted of single portraits of individuals that were distinguishable from another.
When Rembrandt presented his work in 1642 to his clients they weren´t exactly happy with what he had produced. Just imagine paying to be portrayed in a group portrait and then having the arm of some other dude painted right in front of your face like the guy at 2:09. At the same time a girl, who obviously didn´t pay anything, is in the focus. I´d be pissed too. Rembrandt´s painting orientates itself not to its own tradition of the genre but to the Italian way of portraying groups: with a story. You could argue that it shows a historic action or a daily ritual and therefore is a genre painting. But there is no evidence of Captain Frans Banning Cocq´s Company ever doing some sort of parade or exodus of the city like it´s shown in the painting. It is indeed the portraiture of a past civic guard but at the same time it is not. With them vanishing 8 years later you could say though that Rembrandt´s “Night Watch” is their exodus of the genre.
If you ever want to read more about that topic I highly recommend Alois Riegl´s “The Group Portraiture of Holland”.
books.google.co.uk/books?id=O75DAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA3#v=onepage&q&f=false
Personally I think Rembrandt’s masterpiece is the Friends’ theme song, “I’ll be there for you”
I laughed loud
Exquisite. A great example of how different forms of art (cinema and painting) still adhere to the same rules. The "Master of light" is my new inspiration
Nerdwriter makes art history the shiz
Literal. Chills. I'm so glad you're doing art videos again! Your video on Goya LITERALLY made me go to Madrid and see it in person. What an experience.
Thank you!
Been waiting for a new Understanding Art vid . Thanks
I love these civic guard portraits. Also love that each person paid to have themselves put in it. They were all "photoshopped"(in modern language) in one at a time, and that some took months and years. Can you imagine?
I have a very strong urge to paint now 😍
Okay but that detail at 4:20 is something I would have never noticed had you not pointed it out. This piece is just incredible!
I'm italian and every time you say "chiaroscuro" I jizz a little bit
Mama-mia! That's too much information!
i am greek and every time i hear an italian think this is latin i jizz a little bit
@@mpanarkadam3073 I don't think this is Latin, it's straight up Italian. But yeah, it comes from Latin words. 🤔
@@mpanarkadam3073 Λατινικά δεν είναι ρε φιλαράκι ? Δε μπορώ να φανταστώ απο ποια ελληνική ρίζα βγαίνει.
Except that he rolled the first R but not the second. That bothered me for some reason.
Seen this piece in the Rijksmuseum back in 2016, its a huge painting!
G E K O L O N I S E E R D
Zo zijn we allen , kan u schilderen?
🇳🇱 A B E L I N S T A A T O M 🇫🇷
Can you answer-now knocking on Gekoloniseerd Door-
And translate for all of us, ‘just who’s dare?’
Ik Heb DRiE AnDEREN Rembrandt Geplaatst Voor-
Now MAYA’s wordplay’s least murderous, that I’m aware.
ua-cam.com/video/YmLCn21iuTA/v-deo.html
Nice fact: it used to be larger, but they moved it in 1715, and it was cut smaller to fit on a wall inside the palace on Dam Square.. I stood in front of this painting so many times, and every time I discover new things. The depth, and details, and the way light is used in this work is mesmerising.
I love it when you analyze paintings
Amsterdam is a great place to visit for many, many reasons but the Rijksmuseum deserves a day just for the the hall of Dutch Masters where, in an adjacent hall, this masterpiece takes up a wall. I sat and stood there admired it for what felt like a few minutes but, in fact, was nearly an hour. "Indescribable" and "you had to have been there" are what I can tell you about it.
We arrived after lunch after spending the whole morning at the Van Gogh museum across the park and headed straight for that area of the museum, afraid we wouldn't have enough time to take it all in - 5 hours later, as we finished our first walk around the hall, the museum announced it was time to leave. My wife told me that as I stepped out of the hall I bowed my head and seemed to make the sign of the cross - I don't remember it that way but, then again, I know I was in awe.
There are plenty of other reasons to go to Amsterdam but another walk around the Rijksmuseum's hall of Dutch Masters is what's going to take me back there.
When we get around to "The Fighting Temeraire" I'll describe what it felt like during my first, second, third, fourth and fifth visits.
Nerdwriter grew up with Rembrandt's masterpiece
Tell that to Rembrandt's snapped neck
/r/stuck_chris is leaking
I got to see this painting in person this spring and I just wanted to say thank you for helping me really take it in.
Hang on, but who is that girl and what is she doing there? (Thanks for a great video btw)
She is a sort of Mascot of the "Kloveniers"
I was wondering the same thing, since she's so out of place . . . the fact that she looks angelic got me wondering, as well . . .
She can also represent Virgin Mary
Saskia. Rembrandt's wife
The girls is Saskia, his first wife. She died before the painting was done, and one night he saw her as this little girl and decided to edit her into this painting.
"Shine shine...the light of good works shine.
The watch before the City Gates, depicted in their prime.
That golden light, all grimy now.
Three hundred years have passed.
The worthy captain and his squad of troopers, standing fast."
More painting ones
At first I thought you had done some editing effects on the painting to achieve the in-focus out-of-focus effect until I realized that's just the painting. Incredible.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderfully done essay my friend. I've been watching your videos since the beginning and I this is one of my favorites.
One thing I will say you missed is that the depth of field technique you mentioned also has an academic name we painters use, it's called "Tenebrism" but having said that I actually never knew ow Rembrandt took the poses from a book on arm's use so thank you for teaching me something new about my favorite painter!
God, how do you have such good taste in art? Goya, Velazquez and now Rembrandt.
If you google "famous painters" those show up.
I went to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam just a few days ago and had a look at this painting. I can see how the contrasts in the Night Watch are appealing, but personally I found the Treaty of Munster (shown at 1:11 in the video) more skillfully crafted; perhaps not in composition and lighting, but in the details and realism.
Wow, this is a great video! And for me, this shows just how powerful video essays can be for engaging and educating the masses of people that would not have taken much interest in school for example.
Yes! Often enough school is disregarded cause "it's boring anyways" and teachers with poor teaching skills don't help that image at all. Interesting video essays like this bring education to a whole new level and I think that's an awesome feat of this day and age
I can’t tell you how many professors I’ve talked to about incorporating techniques used by essayist into their lecture. A voice is not engaging enough. We need visuals
FilmSwitch It's a great idea! Especially when it comes to ~ visual ~ art :)) By showing a high-res image of the painting (or anything else) you're taking about you can make everything feel more interactive. It's not just the teacher explaining, the students can now see better and maybe also come with their views on the subject. If you ask me, a projector is crucial for a good history of arts course
edit: PS. Awesome channel :D
Absolutely. I think if you're teaching art you have to be a bit of an artist yourself. And thanks! You too, you're a great artist!
FilmSwitch Thank you! 😄
My BA is in art history so I love to watch videos you do on painting. Dutch Baroque painting is one of my favorite styles.
Rembrandt painted it in 240p
This was great. Was just in Amsterdam 2 weeks ago and gazing at this. You hit on some things not mentioned in the analysis on Rick Steve's audio tour nor in the museum-supplied details sheet.
Hb Caspar David Friedrich?
Going to an art gallery with you would be so much fun!
Hello...Steffateetee how are you?
More this. Like this.
Imagine being aware of depth of field before cameras - that's so cool! 😮
Nice
Make more videos dad
every single time you present us with something new and it only takes a minute to dive into it . Your editting style,narration and vision is ecstatic .
Captain "Coke"...we all know that's not the way to pronounce it ;)
Every single time I see that you have posted a video about classical art I get excited. You do an amazing work on this essays, please keep up the good work. Cheers from a friend all the way from Panama.
But where is Jon Snow?
Dean Vowles on the boat with Daenerys Targaryen
I didn't know anyone or anything could get me interested in art history, but here we are. I even watch your Chronos Devouring His Son video fairly often. You're doing a great job with these.
Thanks guys, I'll see you nex-
Seriously, keep up the great work, your attention for detail is incredible! It's essays like this that keep me excited for what's next. I can only imagine the process you go through in selecting your next subject of analysis.
Yo, I make video essays too, Nerd writer. It'll be awhile, but eventually I'll be as good as you. Just wait for it.
*delete your channel*
@@Evan-nx9ng I'll consider it
@@H2Mass You won't be as good as him, don't waste your time and *delete your channel now*
@@H2Mass delete this comment
Hey Evan, stop being a useless asshat.
Your videos on old paintings are my absolute fave!!!! I'm so glad you did another one!!!