Who painted The Phoenix or the Statue Overthrown?

The Phoenix or the Statue Overthrown was painted by Rembrandt in 1658.

Where can I see The Phoenix or the Statue Overthrown?

The Phoenix or the Statue Overthrown is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Phoenix or the Statue Overthrown?

The Phoenix or the Statue Overthrown is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Phoenix or the Statue Overthrown

Rembrandt , 1658

The Phoenix or the Statue Overthrown is an ink print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1658 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Phoenix or the Statue Overthrown is a print made by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1658. Executed as an etching combined with drypoint, the work measures the artist’s late period and exemplifies his interest in chiaroscuro. The image presents a compact interior scene illuminated by a sharp light source that defines the two figures and a fragment of a statue.

Subject & Meaning

In the composition, a man leans against a deteriorating statue while another figure holds a long rod, both bathed in a luminous glow that highlights their faces. The setting—a dim, cramped room—suggests a narrative of decay and renewal, evoked by the title’s reference to a phoenix rising from ruins.

Technique & Style

Rembrandt employed traditional etching alongside drypoint, incising lines directly into a copper plate. The drypoint marks produce a characteristic soft, fuzzy edge that mimics the diffusion of shadows, while the etched lines retain crispness. The contrast between the precise incisions and the velvety tonal areas enhances the dramatic lighting that pulls the figures forward.

Context

This print belongs to a series of works in which Rembrandt explored the interplay of light and darkness, a hallmark of his graphic oeuvre. The use of a confined space and stark illumination aligns with his broader experimentation in the 1650s, when he frequently combined multiple intaglio techniques to achieve depth and atmosphere.

Artist & collection

Artist

Rembrandt

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.