Rembrandt often shows people in intriguing moods and guises, telling dramatic stories with his art. In his self-portrait, Artist In His Studio, Rembrandt crafts an enigmatic story. What does it mean? It’s up to the viewers to use the painting’s details to come up with answers. The main subject in this small painting is the back of an enormous easel. Standing further back in the room is the artist, Rembrandt himself, with brushes in his hands and a pensive expression on his face. Since viewers don’t see what’s painted on the front of the canvas, they don’t know what the artist is reacting to. In this episode of ‘Why’d They Put That In A Museum,” hosts Beth Bacon and museum curator Sarah Lees discuss this highly unusual composition. To answer the questions that the painting raises, Sarah describes Rembrandt’s tendency to paint self-portraits, his realistic style the stark room setting. They ponder the artist’s contemplative posture and his flamboyant costume. They talk about the socio-political context of the Netherlands in the 1600s and the Baroque influence on art. Listen to this episode to discover why this unusual and thought-provoking painting is a valued piece in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

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