'Rembrandt’s Eyes' by Simon Schama

Book Review

Title: Rembrandt’s Eyes

Author: Simon Schama

Publisher: Allen Lane

Publication Date: January 27, 2015

Purchase: Amazon (affiliate link)

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Few artists have left as deep an imprint on the world of painting as Rembrandt van Rijn. His mastery of light, shadow, and human emotion continues to resonate centuries after his death. But to understand the man behind the brush, one must do more than admire his paintings; one must step into his world. This is precisely what historian and art critic Simon Schama accomplishes in Rembrandt’s Eyes, an ambitious and deeply researched book that offers not just a biography of the Dutch master, but an immersive dive into the cultural and artistic currents that shaped him.

Simon Schama is no stranger to grand narratives. A celebrated historian, he has spent decades chronicling the intersections of art, culture, and politics. From Citizens, his exploration of the French Revolution, to Landscape and Memory, which delves into the deep connections between people and place, Schama’s work is distinguished by its ability to bring history alive. His writing is dense yet lively, bursting with vivid detail and a deep affection for his subjects.

In Rembrandt’s Eyes, Schama brings these strengths to bear on one of history’s greatest painters. But rather than confining himself to a straightforward biography, he expands the scope of the book by juxtaposing Rembrandt’s life and career with that of Peter Paul Rubens, the Flemish Baroque master who loomed large in the art world just as Rembrandt was coming into his own. This parallel narrative provides a fascinating contrast—Rubens, the courtly, international superstar, versus Rembrandt, the fiercely independent artist who ultimately fell out of favor.