林勃兰 (Rembrandt 1607-1669)是十七世纪荷兰最伟大的画家现实主义绘画艺术的奠基者之一。他画了许多油画和铜版画。这些作品表现的内容和他优秀的写实技巧是人类最好的艺术遗产的一部份。

他一生的遭遇是悲苦凄凉的，他想飞的妻子和儿子的早逝给予他很大的打击。不过这还不是使一个伟大的艺术家
不过這还不是使一个偉大的潦倒街头，贫穷以终的根本原因。由于他的一幅画叫“夜巡”的作品不能满足雇主们庸俗的要求而触犯众怒。而他又坚决不肯改变自己在艺术创作上的态度，因此他的画室便陷入被抵制状态，而使他迎接那悲惨的命运。他孤独地居住在贫民窟里，然而他和那些流浪汉，和叫化子得很好，他的创作热情还没有熄灭，在阴暗的地窖中照着一块镜子画自画像 -- 他的自画像之精彩和数量之多是出名的，这时他的双眼不断地流着
泪水，可是他还是忍受着精神上的痛苦在绘画。

这是多么可贵的工作热忱啊！后来他的双目损坏到不能再画，便到街头去求乞。当他捡拾了几个从贵族的马车上掷下来的铜板，回到聊避风雪屋檐之下，把多余的几个铜板分给乞不到钱的叫化子。林勃兰就是这样同情和关怀别人的。

林勃兰死的时候只有他一个人身后萧条，只有几件破衬衫和一些画具颜色。他毕生勤劳创作，留下六百幅油画和一千三百幅铜版画。

贯串着林勃兰全部作品的一个中心思想是：反映现实生活是画家的主要任务。他说：“画，不能完全依着你的眼睛去看它，也不完全是你看到的那样东西。”这是非常的，也是最基本的现实主义的创作方法，意思是说，完全依照感性认识是不够的，必须通过理性认识去看生活才能够发掘出他真实的面貌。

林勃兰在平民生活中找寻题材无处不表现出他深挚的友爱和同情在画肖像时也是如此并不因为职业性的，为了满足雇主的虚荣心与优越感而自己的创作态度，他的自画像不是从外形的酷似出发，而是通过对象的内心状态来表现这个人精神上的特点，他坚持自己的创作方法，所以雇主们便不请他画画了。

林勃兰也画过一部分宗教题材的作品，他从奶都只是把耶稣作为一个慈悲胸怀的面目出现，并没有把他处理为一个离开了现实的神化了的偶像。

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Rembrandt (1607-1669) was one of the greatest realist painters and a key figure in seventeenth-century Dutch art. He created numerous oil paintings and etchings, and his works are considered a significant part of humanity's artistic heritage.

His life was marked by hardship and personal tragedy, including the loss of his beloved wife and children. However, these challenges were not the fundamental reasons that led this great artist to a life of poverty and destitution. Rembrandt's refusal to compromise his artistic integrity and conform to the shallow demands of his patrons, particularly for his painting titled "The Night Watch," led to public outrage and a decline in his commissions. His studio was boycotted, and he faced a difficult fate.

Living in relative isolation, Rembrandt resided in the slums but maintained close connections with beggars and street performers. Despite the harsh conditions, his passion for creating art never waned. He continued to paint, even as his eyesight deteriorated, producing a remarkable series of self-portraits that captured his inner struggles and emotional depth.

Rembrandt's unwavering dedication to his craft is a testament to his artistic fervor. When his eyesight failed, he resorted to begging on the streets. Once, he found a few coins thrown from a nobleman's carriage, and he immediately shared them with beggars who were less fortunate.

This unwavering commitment to his art and empathy for others characterized Rembrandt's entire body of work. He left behind approximately 600 oil paintings and 1,300 etchings, all marked by a central theme: the reflection of real life. He believed that truly understanding life required looking beyond appearances and delving into the essence of existence, emphasizing the importance of rational knowledge in the artistic process.

Rembrandt found inspiration in everyday life and portrayed subjects from various walks of life. His portraits were not merely about physical resemblance but aimed to capture the inner essence of the individual. This steadfast approach to his craft led to a decline in commissions from patrons who sought more conventional works.

While Rembrandt also created religious pieces, he portrayed Jesus not as a distant deity but as a compassionate and relatable figure. His work demonstrated his commitment to realism over idealization.

When Rembrandt passed away, he left behind a modest legacy, with little more than worn-out shirts and art supplies to his name. Yet, his dedication to portraying the complexities of human life and his unwavering artistic vision have made him one of the most revered artists in history.