Why'd They Put That In A Museum?
Art. Objects. Museums. Ideas. Questions. What happens when you put things on display and invite people in to look? Have you ever seen art on display and wondered, “Why’d they put that in a museum?” Museum curator Sarah Lees and author Beth Bacon start each conversation with one item, in one specific museum. We explore the object, its history, and the cultural ideas surrounding it. In the end, that object takes on new meaning as listeners discover the fascinating reasons it ended up in a museum.
Why'd They Put That In A Museum?
Rembrandt Artist In His Studio
Rembrandt is known for telling dramatic stories with his art. He often paints his figures in intriguing moods and guises. In his self-portrait, Artist In His Studio, Rembrandt does both, creating a moody, enigmatic story in a very small frame. The main subject in this small painting is the back of an enormous easel. Standing further away is the artist, Rembrandt himself, with brushes in his hands and a pensive expression on his face. What is going on here? It’s up to the viewers to use the painting’s details to come up with answers. Since viewers don’t see what’s painted on the front of the canvas, they don’t know what the artist is reacting to. In this episode of 'Why’d They Put That In A Museum,” hosts Beth Bacon and museum curator Sarah Lees discuss this highly unusual composition. To answer the questions that the painting raises, Sarah describes Rembrandt's tendency to paint self-portraits, his realistic style the stark room setting. They ponder the artist’s contemplative posture and his flamboyant costume. They talk about the socio-political context of the Netherlands in the 1600s and the Baroque influence on art. Listen to this episode to discover why this unusual and thought-provoking painting is a valued piece in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
© 2025 Why'd They Put That In A Museum podcast hosts Beth Bacon and Sarah Lees.
