Have you ever really looked at a painting? I mean, stared at it until you see beyond the surface?
I've looked at Rembrandt's The Night Watch many, many times. On the surface, it looks like a scene of a bunch of guys posing—a classic scene of men being heroic. In about 1639, 18 civil soldiers, led by Captain Franz Banninck Cocq (in black), pooled their money to commission their own portrait—unaware that they'd live eternally in one of the most famous paintings in the world.
Now squint at it. What do you see first? The lieutenant tin his bright gold jacket?
"Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq," otherwise known as "The Night Watch," by Rembrandt Van Rijn, 1639-1642.
Notice the lines in the painting—the flag pole, weapons, and row of lit faces. What do they all point to?
At first glance, it seems like everything draws the eye toward the two main guys. Which makes sense—they're the most important ones in the troop.
But when you remove all color, notice how it changes the composition. Now, the little girl becomes more prominent.
Look more closely at all those compositional lines—they actually point toward her. Even the captain's neck piece, the lieutenant's hat rim.
So, who was she? Symbolically, she was a sort of mascot, with the dead chicken on her belt representing the long gun and a drinking horn, both important to the men.
She seems so specific, but no one knows which actual girl was used as a model. Her face is immortalized by her story is lost.
Whoever she was, her placement in the painting is crucial. She exemplifies the hidden stories in many artworks—secret symbols, messages, and narratives. Sometimes, only the artist knows what they're doing. Sometimes, like in the Night Watch, it's a way to make clients happy with that extra personal touch.
We all tell stories when we create. Viewers like to discover clues. It can be like a treasure hunt. If a painting is successful, that hunt can last for centuries.
By the way, The Night Watch was not really set at night. It's dark varnish made it look like a nocturnal scene.
And it was later trimmed down to fit through a doorway when it was moved. Even the shorter version points to the girl.
The lines show where the painting was trimmed. The missing pieces have never been found, only re-created from a copy of the painting.
If you want to see Rembrandt's actual brush strokes, check out this ultra-high resolution photo online. You can zoom in to every little detaiI!
It's Sunday, a great day to make art…(or come see me make art in my studio, part of Sonoma County's Art Trails)...
Art Heals
It's been awhile since I talked about Meinrad Craighead's work. She was a former nun who devoted herself to solitude, contemplation, and her art practice. As much as I love classical drawing and painting, I'm drawn to work that pushes beyond those boundaries into the realm of the soul, whatever that means to the artist. In Meinrad's case, that journey went inward, where she met her version of the divine. I found a short video of her here.
"Fire" by Meinrad Craighead
With love and light,
Maggie
PS Whenever you’re ready to start working with me, here are three ways:
1. Want to learn drawing, painting, and find your unique voice? Visit my online teaching site, www.parrcreate.com. I list online and in-person classes there, including an upcoming Draw LikeYou Mean It workshop starting 10/20.
2. Already working on something, but want more support? Schedule a private lesson to clarify next steps or work through blocks.
3. Not sure where to begin? Schedule a free 30-minute consultation and I’ll ask you a powerful important question that will inspire you to become the artist you’ve always wanted to be.
