Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
This is quite a small book which is about Rembrandt’s representation of his own nose. But the bigger story is about the way in which he renders flesh; the sense of flesh, in his prints and in his oil paintings.
What’s your third book?
I think we should go to Rembrandt’s Nose.
Another weird title.
Yes. This is quite a small book which is about Rembrandt’s representation of his own nose. At least initially. But the bigger story is about the way in which Rembrandt renders flesh. The sense of flesh, in his prints and in his oil paintings. I love the physical qualities of this book. It’s just beautifully made, on creamy uncoated paper. The reproductions of Rembrandt’s works are exquisite – really beautiful. They’re not full colour, they’re in two tone – sepia – which works very well indeed. For its size, the book’s very generous with the way these images are presented. It gives them a full page each. And you know a small book often concentrates attention in a way a bigger book can’t. It’s like a whisper and it’s wonderfully written. But again for me the fascination is also in the print-making. Rembrandt has such powerful influence on print-makers all the way through from the 17th century to the present. My own work
Because I suppose you’re involved with print-making quite a lot?
All the time. My involvement with printing goes from being associated with a print-making workshop where prints are pain-stakingly made of copper plates, one at a time on a hand operated press, all the way through to being on the floor of a factory where you’ve got a ten colour Heidelberg printer running a million sheets a year.
Read full interview
Bronwyn Law-Viljoen is managing editor of David Krut publishing in Johannesburg. Besides the many art books she has edited and produced, her articles have appeared in South Africa, the UK and the USA. She talks to FiveBooks about ritual suicide, a swallow called Loplop, and the beauty of Rembrandt’s nose.
