Rembrandt’s Amsterdam: Golden Times?

Richly illustrated and deeply researched, this catalog explores 17th-century Amsterdam through the lens of Rembrandt and his contemporaries. Long celebrated as the height of the Dutch Golden Age, the era is re-examined here with a critical eye toward the societal complexities behind the city’s wealth. From grand civic group portraits to depictions of everyday life, the volume features over 220 color images of paintings, prints, and historical artifacts drawn from major institutions such as the Rijksmuseum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Amsterdam Museum.

Essays by leading scholars shed light on topics such as social hierarchy, migration, colonial expansion, and the visual culture of civic pride, providing a more nuanced portrait of a time often idealized in art history. This publication is a vital companion for anyone interested in Rembrandt, Dutch art, and the layered realities behind the so-called “Golden Times.”