Resources

On-Line Resources

Loving Rembrandt . . . but Despising His Paintings

"I really think that Rembrandt is a great artist," said the man in the blue suit. "And a great human being too!" his friend intoned. "We have a group that periodically gets together to pay Rembrandt our respects, to really bring honor to him. Rembrandt! Really great! We get together weekly, to talk about him, read about him, and listen to presentations about him by specially trained experts. We even sing his praises."

"After you do that, what's next?" I asked the man in the blue suit. "Well, after each of our weekly meetings we go home, get a little rest and then use the inspiration we gained that day to help take on the challenges of the coming week. We are uplifted. It helps us do our jobs wherever we do them across this region."

"And what's so great about Rembrandt," I asked the friend, "Why is he so inspiring?" "Well, he is just my inspiration, he gives a sense of purpose, he rescues me from hum-drum non-stop pressing ahead, day upon day, doing my job, you know."

And, from my own limited knowledge, I tender a question to the two talkers: "Isn't Rembrandt that outstanding artist -- the one who did all those great paintings?"

They pause now, nodding, knowing I'm right, but looking embarrassed about saying so. But they do not reply. "Isn't he the one who painted his own troubled face among the soldiers who raised Christ's cross at Calvary?" I ask. "Well, yes. And we sing about that sometimes." And so he is that great artist! I exclaim. "Well, yes," the friend replies, "but his paintings are not that important, really. They won't last forever. "We've lost a few already over there in that museum -- vandals or something. Defaced when there wasn't enough money to pay a curator. But they're no big deal. Sometimes when we need a piece of canvas, they are a good source of supply, you know. Rembrandt used the finest canvas! But we don't let anything go to waste, mind you! We even use the paint chips we scrape off. Nothing is wasted!"

"So you like Rembrandt a lot -- really a whole lot! -- but just don't care very much about his paintings?" I ask them. "You've got it!" they reply.

And I rephrase my question, "So you honor Rembrandt, while despising his masterpieces?" The man in the blue suit responded, "Now that is just not a very good way of putting it! You make it sound like we're doing things wrong or something. There are far better ways to say what you just said. And you should be careful of how you say things. We always are, and so should you."

The man in blue, in condescending tone and disturbed with by my insensitivity replies, "Let's just say that Rembrandt cares a lot more for me than those paintings."

"I see," is my response, not really seeing. And daring one more question, I meekly ask, "Do you think you two might be better off if you spent a little less time on the job so you could help care for Rembrandt's paintings?" Said the friend of the man in the blue, "The more we keep to doing our jobs, the more money the government can get from us in taxes for running museums and things, and the more we'll be able to donate. But, we have to get going... Our jobs are calling us."

"But do you look at Rembrandt's work?" I asked, "and if you do, what do you think of it?" "Dangerous business!" said the friend. "We don't want to be confused with the others -- you know, the ones that like those paintings very much, but don't care about Rembrandt!"

They leave me with a perplexing question. And I will not raise it to them. And besides, I have a job to do, too. Nothing like the call of a job to put these questions to the side. Suppressing this question will let me and other forge ahead, doing our jobs here and there across all creation.

-- Calvin B. DeWitt

For additional information and resources, contact:
e-mail: administration@ausable.org

Some resources may no longer be available due to the closing of the Outreach Office in March, 2005.

< back to online resources