For the first time in its history, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna is dedicating a major special exhibition to Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606–1669). Never before has it been possible to admire such an abundance of major works by the master, one of the most important Dutch Baroque painters, in Austria. The exhibition takes a special approach in contrasting Rembrandt’s paintings with works by his brilliant pupil Samuel van Hoogstraten (1627–1678).

Rembrandt’s workshop was the centre of a lively exchange on artistic challenges: Both Rembrandt and Van Hoogstraten saw themselves as exploratory artists who were always seeking out new ways to depict nature and optical phenomena with deceptive truth to life. Rembrandt’s illusionistic skills also fascinated Van Hoogstraten and would yield a lasting influence on his works.

The exhibited works from different genres bear witness to the competition between the two artists, but also show innovative pictorial inventions which helped Van Hoogstraten celebrate great successes at the court in Vienna.

Moreover, Van Hoogstraten’s Introduction to the Academy of Painting (Inleyding), published in 1678, provides a unique source of information on Rembrandt’s workshop practices, teaching methods and art theoretical opinion.