Leiden's Art and Artists
Leiden has been the centre point of art since the 17th century. During this time, known as the Dutch Golden Age, many famous painters like Rembrandt van Rijn, Jan Steen and Jan van Goyen established themselves in Leiden. During the economic boost of the Golden Age, wealthy citizens started to collect art and had portraits made of themselves. Many of these paintings were restored and are now on display in several of Leiden's 13 museums. Leiden has a lot to offer for all art lovers!
Rembrandt is by far the most famous painter from Leiden. Born in 1606 in a reasonably wealthy family, Rembrandt is best known for his use of light and shade in his paintings and for his persistent realism, which has led some critics to argue that he favoured ugliness over beauty. His most famous work ‘De Nachtwacht’ was originally painted with relatively dark tones, using light effects to highlight specific areas. However, over time, the varnish on the painting lost some of the original colour, causing it to appear much darker. This led to the mistaken belief that the scene depicted takes place at night, which is how the painting came to be nicknamed The Night Watch in the 18th century. Some of his paintings are now visible at the Lakenhal, and if you want to know more about Rembrandt’s life in Leiden you should pay a visit to the Young Rembrandt Studio.
Another world famous painter from Leiden is Jan Steen. His style of painting is quite similar to Rembrandt’s. Steen’s work, however, usually depicted daily life. His paintings appear very lively, almost chaotic. His paintings are so characteristic that ‘a Jan Steen household’ has become a Dutch saying. Steen was especially renounced for his attention to detail by making textile look lifelike. His work is so realistic, it almost seems like the scene is happening right in front of you.
Jan van Goyen’s specialty wasn’t portraits, but rather still lifes. His style composed of green-grey, transparently painted landscapes with vast Dutch cloudy skies. His work is not as realistic as one might believe at first glance. Research has shown that the landscapes he painted were a mixture of fantasised, realistic elements. As a result, Van Goyen made his paintings in his studio, rather than outside in the field. Interestingly, he was the father-in-law of Jan Steen.
In the early 20th century, Leiden had an art renaissance when the city became the birthplace of the De Stijl movement, a revolutionary modern art style founded by Theo van Doesburg in 1917. Born as a magazine, De Stijl introduced an abstract, objective visual language intended to promote universal harmony. Its most notable artists include Piet Mondriaan and Gerrit Rietveld, whose works are characterized by a focus on primary colors and geometric forms. The movement, also known as neoplasticism (Nieuwe Beelding), sought to break free from the imitation of nature and instead establish new, autonomous principles for art. Over time, disagreements within the movement emerged, particularly regarding how strictly these principles should be applied, saying the personal feelings and emotions of the individual artist should ideally have no impact on the final outcome. However, its impact on modern art remains profound.
Apart from art, Leiden is also a city of science. These two go hand in hand during the Days of Art & Science. This latest artistic and scientific trend shows how creativity drives scientific discovery, and how scientific advancements inspire artistic expression. Together, they help us understand the world better, with each one making the other stronger and more interesting.
For art lovers seeking to explore this cultural legacy, Leiden’s 13 museums offer an unparalleled experience. From the lifelike realism of Rembrandt's portraits and Jan Steen’s lively scenes of everyday life to the innovative abstraction of De Stijl, these museums capture the essence of art’s evolution. Whether you're fascinated by 17th-century masterpieces or modern art movements, Leiden is the perfect destination to immerse yourself in history and creativity.