Among the masterpieces of Rembrandt’s early Leiden period in the exhibition are three paintings from a series representing the five senses: Stone Operation (Allegory of Touch); Three Musicians (Allegory of Hearing) and Unconscious Patient (Allegory of Smell). In these youthful works, the contrasts of light and shade, the colour and compositional approach are evidence of the influence on Rembrandt of the Utrecht Caravaggists.
The Card Players by Jan Lievens and Allegory of Faith of Faith by Hendrick ter Brugghen also demonstrate the dramatic effects of chiaroscuro discovered by the Italian artist Caravaggio.
Gerrit Dou, one of Rembrandt’s first pupils, became famous in the 17th century for his original manner of painting and subject matter. In contrast to his teacher, who painted in a broad, flowing, expressive manner, Dou evolved his own style that became known as fijnschilderij or “fine-manner painting” that was marked by the carefully considered placement of brushstrokes and painstaking detail work. The artist gave a fresh interpretation to subjects from everyday life, employing the motif of the arched window opening and placing certain elements in such a way that they seem to emerge from the picture space. Dou strove to establish an interaction between the viewer and the protagonists of his paintings. This is clearly illustrated by his Cat Crouching on the Ledge of an Artist’s Atelier and Young Woman in a Niche with a Parrot and Cage.