Active in the fiercely Protestant Netherlands, Rembrandt van Rijn demonstrated a remarkable sensitivity to Jewish ideas and interpretations of the Hebrew Bible. The artist’s association with Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel and other members of Amsterdam’s Jewish community influenced his approach to Hebrew Biblical subjects, as well as his understanding of Christian theology. At the same time, Rembrandt created a new standard for richly intellectual and contemplative visual commentary, often at odds with his contemporaries. This course focuses on the character of Rembrandt’s depictions of Biblical subjects by examining their relationship to Jewish scripture and exegesis, to contemporary Jewish life in Amsterdam, and to the European artistic tradition. Using Rembrandt’s and his contemporaries’ paintings, drawings, and prints as jumping-off points, students will explore the artist’s connections to the Jewish community of Amsterdam, his knowledge of and perspective on Jewish sources and customs, and his place within the larger context of art history and religious tradition.