Dutch Artists Throughout History
There are many notable historical Dutch artists. Since the Dutch Golden Age, many legendary artists have started their careers in the Netherlands. The works of Van Gogh, a notable Dutch post-impressionist, are among the most sought after and expensive in the world. Artists Vermeer and Rembrandt are known as some of the "Dutch Masters," and Rembrandt’s painting “Night Watch” is one of the most famous paintings on display in the Rijksmuseum. More recent Dutch artists, such as M.C. Escher, are also very well thought of in the art world. M.C. Escher has a museum is in Den Haag, which is located in the Netherlands. More information about famous Dutch artists through history can be found below.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn
Rembrandt is generally considered to be one of the greatest artists in European art history. He worked producing art all throughout the Dutch Golden Age. Rembrandt was a successful portrait painter in the beginning of his career and remained generally popular throughout his life, though he faced many hardships toward the end of his life, especially financially. Rembrandt is chiefly known for his portraiture, (portraits of his contemporaries and self-portraits), and paintings from the Bible. Rembrandt taught many other Dutch painters, and many of his pupils achieved artistic fame; some of their works can be seen in museums around the world, including the Rijksmuseum.
Johan Vermeer
Vermeer was born in Delft, where he was also buried. Delft is located between Rotterdam and The Hague and is well known for its Delft Blue pottery, also known as Delftware. Delftware can often be identified by the iconic blue and white designs found on the pottery and can be anything from dishware to simple tiles. Vermeer was famous for painting scenes from the everyday life of the middle class.
Vermeer became reasonably successful in his lifetime, though he died in debt. He was particularly known for his different uses of light in his work.
Maurits Cornelis Escher
M.C. Escher was born 1898 in the Netherlands and is known as one of the world's most famous graphic artists. Some of his most famous works are his “Impossible Structures," notably:
And his “Transformation Prints” such as:
During his life, Escher completed 448 lithographs, woodcuts, and wood engravings, and over 2000 drawings and sketches. Originally, when attending school, Escher was set to study architecture, though he switched to art after a very short time.
Vincent Willem van Gogh
Van Gogh is a very well-known Dutch post-impressionist. Sadly, he was only well known after his death. Though today he is regarded as one of the world’s greatest painters, during his lifetime he was not highly regarded. Van Gogh started his painting career relatively late, and completed his first painting in his late 20s. Most of his best-known works were completed during the last two years of his life. In all, he produced over 2,000 works, (approximately 900 paintings and 1,100 drawings).