Analyzing Rembrandt's 'The Alchemist Workshop'
The Alchemist Workshop I had the pleasure of visiting Egyptian Museum and was very Impress.Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn is regarded as one of the most prolific and intense artists of his era. Born on July 15th, 1606 he is renowned as one of the most revered painters and printmakers in European art history and perhaps the most important in Dutch history of all.Rembrandt painted “Alchemist workshop” in 1606.this is the provenance of the painting, the interpretations have been wide ranging from alchemist to religious interpretations. A private space for both particle and spiritual work.
The oil painting show a man sitting in shadows near a window; on the far right is another women diligently …show more content…
This indicates a place between the earthly man and the enlightened spiritual man. He is thus a mystic and a true philosopher. And as such he bathes himself so to speak in the light of the sun, which shines through the window upon him. He however is not yet able to look directly into the sunlight, which is the metaphysical light. Thus he is depicted in the painting as staring at the sunlight as it is reflected on the floor. Equally can a true philosopher not see the metaphysical directly and can he only meditate on how this light is reflected in his mind. And for this he is sitting. This indicates that he has brought himself to a rest. Something which is of great importance if we wish to catch a glimpse of the spiritual light reflecting in our mind. There is a direct line from the man to the stairs, denoting his interest in ascending it. His back he has turned towards a small door. The painting does not show what is behind the door but it will very likely be a storage place of some kind. And having turned his back towards such a place shows that the true philosopher has turned his back on earthly things. A last symbol worth mentioning regarding the bearded man is the open book lying beside him on the table, for this indicates the true alchemist to be a student of and striver for knowledge and
The oil painting show a man sitting in shadows near a window; on the far right is another women diligently …show more content…
This indicates a place between the earthly man and the enlightened spiritual man. He is thus a mystic and a true philosopher. And as such he bathes himself so to speak in the light of the sun, which shines through the window upon him. He however is not yet able to look directly into the sunlight, which is the metaphysical light. Thus he is depicted in the painting as staring at the sunlight as it is reflected on the floor. Equally can a true philosopher not see the metaphysical directly and can he only meditate on how this light is reflected in his mind. And for this he is sitting. This indicates that he has brought himself to a rest. Something which is of great importance if we wish to catch a glimpse of the spiritual light reflecting in our mind. There is a direct line from the man to the stairs, denoting his interest in ascending it. His back he has turned towards a small door. The painting does not show what is behind the door but it will very likely be a storage place of some kind. And having turned his back towards such a place shows that the true philosopher has turned his back on earthly things. A last symbol worth mentioning regarding the bearded man is the open book lying beside him on the table, for this indicates the true alchemist to be a student of and striver for knowledge and