Historical Image of God

This is a painting entitled "Portrait of Christ's Head" by the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. It belongs to the historical period of Bourgeois Baroque, and it was painted from 1650 to 1652. This is shortly after the Protestant Reformation ended, in 1648. I think the painting's close proximity to the Reformation is significant. For instance this version of Jesus is a lot simpler and less grand than previous portraits of Him. I think this speaks to the Protestant tendency to dull down the former Catholic grandness of images.

I think I choose this piece because of it's great show of emotion, which is one thing Rembrandt is famous for. In this picture I can easily see and feel the love and compassion that Christ is showing. I think I also like it because of it's simplicity. It's not too crowded and busy. It simply shows what it wishes to, which I think heightens the emotions He is expressing. Mostly I like it because when I look at it, it's almost as if that love and compassion is being expressed directly to me.