Rembrandt’s Inspiration

The New Testament Etchings

from The Oman Collection

In Celebration of the 400th Anniversary of Rembrandt’s Beginnings as an Etcher

Four hundred years ago, Rembrandt Harmenszoon Van Rijn made his first etching The Circumcision, c. 1625-26, when he was just nineteen years of age. The etching was inspired by the New Testament in celebration of a new hope for the world and the origins of Christianity.

The exhibition Rembrandt’s Inspiration: The New Testament Etchings from the Oman Collection has been planned and organized to accomplish two goals. First and foremost, the etchings that were selected support the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Rembrandt’s beginnings as an etcher. Second, the etchings are critically important to understand the artist’s impact on the fine art of printmaking. The anniversary is important because it provides a fresh opportunity to consider Rembrandt’s graphic art not only in relation to his paintings but also to the work of other artists whom he admired and to those who followed and were inspired by him.

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