Rembrandt van Rijn, the Dutch Baroque artist, is renowned for his mastery of light, shadow, and realism. But beyond his incredible technical skill, there are plenty of quirky and unusual facts about this legendary painter that make his life and work even more fascinating:

The Selfie King of the 1600s
Long before the selfie era, Rembrandt painted more self-portraits than any artist of his time—around 100 of them! These self-portraits serve as a fascinating timeline of his life, capturing his transformation from a young, confident artist to a wiser, more contemplative older man. Each one reveals a new layer of his personality and skill, almost as if he were constantly experimenting with how he could capture himself through the lens of art.

Obsession with Drama
Rembrandt was a master of chiaroscuro, a technique that plays with dramatic contrasts of light and dark. His use of this technique added a sense of depth and drama to his paintings, creating a spotlight effect that made his figures appear to leap out of the canvas. His masterpiece The Night Watch is a brilliant example of this, where his use of light pulls the viewer’s attention to specific figures while casting others in shadow.

Financial Woes of a Genius
Despite his fame, Rembrandt wasn’t great with money. He lived lavishly, spending large amounts on art, antiques, and fine clothing (which he often wore while painting). This led to financial troubles later in life, forcing him to declare bankruptcy in 1656. Yet, even in hard times, his creativity never wavered, and some of his most emotionally powerful works, like The Jewish Bride, were created during these challenging years.

The Mystery of His Burial
Despite his status as one of the greatest painters of all time, Rembrandt’s final resting place remains a mystery. After his death in 1669, he was buried in an unmarked grave in Amsterdam's Westerkerk church, as was common for those who died in poverty. His grave was eventually reused, and no one knows exactly where his remains are now.