ARTS1076H: Rashi and Rembrandt: Art as Commentary in Early Modern Amsterdam

Abstract

Course Description¶ Acclaimed for his Protestant-influenced interpretation of Scripture, Rembrandt van Rijn’s art – paintings, prints and drawings – demonstrate a rich sensitivity to specifically Jewish ideas and concerns. The artist's association with Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel and other members of Amsterdam’s Jewish community influenced his approach to Hebrew Biblical subjects, as well as his understanding of Christian theology. At the same time, the artist’s work broke new stylistic ground and established an original approach to interpreting subjects and engaging with artistic traditions in general. This inter-disciplinary course explores the character of Rembrandt’s depictions of Hebrew Biblical and Christian subjects by examining their relationship to Jewish exegesis, including Talmudic, Midrashic and Kabbalistic literature, to contemporary Jewish life in Amsterdam, and to the art historical tradition. We will examine Rembrandt’s connections to the Jewish community of Amsterdam, his knowledge of and perspective on Jewish sources and customs, and the master’s place within the larger context of art history and theological discourse.¶ Course Structure¶ In each section of the course, we will explore subjects and themes addressed by Rembrandt in his art, analyzing them both through an art historical/technical and philosophical/theological lens. Professors Soloveichik and Wisse, who will both be together with the students during all class meetings, will – in each session – address the same images and topics from different vantage points, invoking historical and contemporary sources to place Rembrandt’s images and ideas in context. Students will be required to read primary sources (in translation) and will be called upon for at least one in-class or on-site presentation. In addition to classroom meetings and discussions, we will visit world-class collections in the New York area to see the work of Rembrandt and his contemporaries in person, including possibly the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Frick Collection, and/or a private collection.