IN 17th-century Holland, a host of historical, political, religious and economic factors came together and gave rise to a golden age of artistic achievement.

Now, a selection of works from this glorious epoch are on display in “Rembrandt and His Time: An Important Private Collection of 17th century Dutch Master Drawings,” a new show now running at the Long Museum West Bund.

Organized by Sotheby’s and the Long Museum, the exhibition includes works from many of the most important artists of the day, including Rembrandt, Jacob van Ruisdael, Hendrick Avercamp and Jan van Goyen. Together, these works present a wide-ranging and insightful look at 17th–century Dutch life and culture.

During the era in which these artists worked, their stunning creations were made possibly in large part by the unrivalled wealth and influence Holland enjoyed thanks to its control over the Rhine River, one of Europe’s most vital trading routes.

The drawings produced during this period of prosperity and swelling national pride took on a whole new significance.

Leading artists of the day worked in a wide range of media while also focusing on new subject matter, including Dutch landscapes, the country’s bustling cities, its ordinary people as well as the foreign destinations.

With the rise of drawing, artists honed their skills and developed ideas that would be explored later in other media, including paintings, prints and decorative arts.

“The exhibition is a comprehensive showcase of 17th-century Dutch Old Master Drawings,” says Kevin Ching, CEO of Sotheby’s Asia, “The Dutch ‘Golden Age’ was one of the great high points in the whole history of European art, and drawings play a vital part in this artistic flowering.”

One highlight of the exhibition goes to Rembrandt’s “Seated Man.” This finely drawn and emotionally penetrating figure drawing belongs to a small group of black chalk studies by Rembrandt. The particular work features a single, seated man, lost in deep thought.

Rembrandt is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of all time, as few before or since have surpassed this master in terms of capturing the form and innermost emotions of their subjects or the subtle nuances of light and shade.

Another highlight is “Gatehouse by Water” created by Jacob van Ruisdael, considered by many to be the most important landscape painters from 17th-century Holland.

Scholars and critics say he brought a new freshness and sense of atmosphere to the genre, and had a massive influence over other Dutch landscape artists of the time.

In this piece, Ruisdael’s expert execution of a typical Dutch landscape in black chalk and grey wash creates a dramatic effect in which light appears to flicker off the wind swept trees, while the bridge and gatehouse are reflected on the dappled surface of the water.

 

Date: Through May 10 (closed on Mondays), 10am-6pm

Venue: Long Museum West Bund, 3398 Longteng Ave