1. spent 1/3 of his life in Leiden

Rembrandt was born Rembrandt Harmenszohn van Rijn in 1606, but is now commonly referred to simply as Rembrandt.
Harmenszohn is his father's name and van Rijn is his birthplace near the Rhine River; in 1633, for reasons unknown, he added a silent "d" to his signature.

The Night Watch, 1642

2. dramatic shading

A leading painter of the Dutch Golden Age, he is known for his dramatic use of light and shadow, his versatility, and especially for his portraits.

3. birthplace

Born in Leiden, he abandoned his university studies to devote himself to painting, and studied under Pieter Lastman in Amsterdam, who specialized in history and the Bible.

Self Portrait, aged 51, c. 1657

4. the Next Rembrandt

In 2016, ING and Microsoft collaborated to create The Next Rembrandt, a 3D printed object that closely resembles a Rembrandt painting. Machine learning algorithms used specific data points such as color, geometry, and texture to mimic an authentic Rembrandt painting.

Portrait of a Young Woman with a Black Cap , 1632

5. Friends Theme

The theme music for the popular sitcom "Friends" was composed and performed by The Rembrandts, a band named after the Dutch painter.

Saint James the Greater , 1661

6. chiaroscuro

By 1632, he was already demonstrating his versatility and great range. In addition to landscapes and portraits, he was producing mythological, biblical, and allegorical scenes in both painting and etching.
He also painted large areas of color and used intense chiaroscuro (light and dark techniques) to create an unprecedented level of mental imagery of his models and dramatic interior and exterior scenes.

Saskia Van Uylenburgh in Profile, IN POMPOUS DRESS, CIRCA 164

7. bankruptcy

Despite his commercial and financial success, by the late 1640s Rembrandt had exhausted his fortune, could no longer pay his mortgage, and was forced to declare bankruptcy.
He had to sell his house, many objects and paintings from his collection, and his printing press.
He moved his family to a smaller home and never recovered financially, eventually dying in poverty.

The Hundred Guilder Print, 1649

8. Rembrandt had a profound influence on later painters.

Vincent van Gogh described Rembrandt's significance to him as "Rembrandt delves deeply into the mystical and says things that no words can describe.
Rembrandt is also known and respected as a "magician" for his technical skills.