This summer, you can see over 50 prints and 2 paintings by Rembrandt in the artist’s own home. In the exhibition Rembrandt & Life, you can see a whole life unfold before your eyes, from cradle to grave. Every stage of life held something of interest for Rembrandt. He had a particularly keen eye for the wonder of the ordinary. From the clenched fists of a crying baby and the mischievous glances of young lovers to the beauty of a wrinkled face.
Join Rembrandt on his journey through life in the exhibition Rembrandt & Life, featuring over fifty prints from the collection of the Rembrandt House Museum. At the end of the exhibition, something special awaits you: Rembrandt’s treasure chamber, including his masterful painting The Anatomy Lesson of Jan Deijman.
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Highlight: Rembrandt’s cutest baby
The exhibition opens with a print depicting a family begging at a front door. In it, we see what is perhaps Rembrandt’s most endearing baby. Tied to his mother’s back and wearing a little round bonnet, the baby resembles a koala bear.
Highlight: The Blind Tobit
In this scene from the Bible, a blind man hears his son returning home after a long absence. Although he is very old, he hurries to the door to embrace his son. On his way, he even knocks over the spinning wheel and nearly trips over the dog.
Rembrandt’s Treasure Chamber
The exhibition concludes with Rembrandt’s treasure trove: a ‘slow watching’ space. Here, you find yourself face to face with two paintings and a print by Rembrandt.
One of these masterpieces is the painting The Anatomy Lesson of Jan Deijman (1656). The painting was partially destroyed by fire: only the central section remains. But even that section is moving and fascinating. Everything Rembrandt excelled at comes together here: observation, technique, emotion, experimentation and commercial appeal. With the help of an audio tour, amongst other things, you will discover step by step why this is a masterpiece.
In the treasure chamber, you will find another painting by Rembrandt: Joseph Interpreting His Dreams (1633). This is a painting on paper in shades of brown and grey. A very unusual painting: it is, in fact, a kind of sketch. Very occasionally, Rembrandt would make a design before starting on an engraving. This is one of them. Rembrandt experimented with the composition and the play of light. This oil sketch hangs next to a print by Rembrandt on the same subject. Take a look and compare: what did Rembrandt carry over from his original sketch, and what did he leave out?
Try it yourself: Drawing like Rembrandt
In our drawing studio (on the third floor of the exhibition wing), you can create your own artwork. Take inspiration from one of Rembrandt’s prints in the exhibition: which stage of life will you capture on paper? Drawing tables, art supplies and simple instructions are all provided.
This activity is free, always available and suitable for everyone aged 6 and over.
Exhibtion book: Rembrandt & Life
Treat yourself or someone else to the Rembrandt & Life book. All the prints and stories from the exhibition are brought together in this colourful publication. The booklet is available to buy in the museum shop. There you will also find the three previous volumes in the series: Rembrandt & Love, Rembrandt & the World and Rembrandt & Amsterdam.
The Anatomy Lesson of Jan Deijmanis on loan from the Amsterdam Museum, which, due to renovation work, is temporarily unable to showcase the city’s complete history. The work is on display at the Rembrandt House Museum until 30 August 2026. Joseph Telling His Dreams is on loan from the Rijksmuseum, made possible thanks to financial support from the Vereniging Rembrandt (including its Fusien Fund); this artwork is on long-term display at the Rembrandt House Museum. The publication Rembrandt & Life has been made possible thanks to the Zadelhoff Cultuurfonds.
