"Syndics of the Draper's Guild", 1661
Rembrandt was commisioned to paint many group portriats, unique in 17th century Holland, of guild members, hospitals, town councils and other civic institutions.
Rembrandt paints the group portrait of the "Staalmeesters", also known as "Syndics of the Draper's Guild", while in a meeting.
His unique touch brings out more than just a members' meeting.
- Rembrandt has submerged the protagonists with a gentler light and avoids stark contrasts and sharp demarcations, more common in his earlier paintings.
- This blending of contrasts makes the men to appear more gentle – they are not tormented by dilemmas of Biblical proportions. They are but wealthy citizens trying to bring about civility and order through their dutiful influence.
- At the same time, these are men who make difficult and sometimes harsh decisions, and the caution and wisdom in their faces recognizes that they need to always be alert to their surroundings.
- Technically, Rembrandt achieves this mixture of gentleness and caution with the natural chiaroscuros provided by the by the dark clothes and the contrasting white collars.
Their illumined (enlightened, intelligent) faces are so lit up by the reflected light from the white collars. These faces are not over-flooded with direct ligth, but are lit with the more subdued secondary reflections off the white collars.
Here the costumes are natural props in aiding Rembrandt's perennial technique of playing with light and dark contrasts, light and dark moods, light and dark personalities, and other psychological polarities.
- The rhythm of the white collars take us from one side to the other in gentle curves. Here, Rembrandt seems to want us to see the men one after the other, each individually important, rather than all of them at once.
- There are muted golden tinges everywhere, from the material in front to the panelling in the back wall. This shows us that despite their rather austere clothing, and probably equally restrained passions, these are men of wealth and financial and social security.
- Rembrandt makes us feel as though someone surprised these men with an unexpected entry. They are looking up at the visitor, and one Guild member is standing up to acknowledge (confront) the visitor. This puts a spontaneous, and familiar, tone to the painting, which a formal sitting couldn't.
- Since we cannot see this 'unexpected guest', then could it be us - the viewers? In such a manner, Rembrandt includes us into his painting, and joins us, even several hundred years later, with his gentle men.