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The rich fool
The painting illustrates the parable of the rich fool from the Gospel of Luke (chapter 12). It depicts a rich man at night studying a gold coin, symbolizing vanity and the needless accumulation of material goods.
Portrait of the Creator
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Artist
Rembrandt van Rijn
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Date of birth and death
15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669
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Natinality
Dutch
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Style
Dutch Golden Age, Baroque, masterful chiaroscuro, psychological realism
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Significant works
The Night Watch, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, The Jewish Bride, Self-portraits, The Hundred Guilder Print
Information about the work
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Year:
1627
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Execution technique:
oil on panel
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Location:
Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Germany
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Theme:
biblical, parable, wealth, vanity, reflection on life
Internal Narrative and Creative Framework
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Inner Narrative
The work is a moral commentary on excessive attachment to wealth, emphasizing the need for spiritual wealth instead of material. Symbolism used in the work includes a stack of books as a sign of vanity and Hebrew letters indicating the biblical context.
The key to interpreting the work
Interpret with consideration of the religious context and Baroque approach to moral themes, paying attention to the drama of light and shadow (tenebrism).See other works by this artist
Self-Portrait with Saskia in the Parable of the Prodigal Son
- Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn
- Year: 1635
