Rembrandt's weapons

[stekemest]

In those days it was not common to paint the people how they may have looked in their time, but to use the fashion of the painter's own background. Often, though, "oriental" people were shown with what the painter thought to look like "oriental" clothing/weapons, even back in the late middle ages. So maybe he chose a keris because he thought it would look "oriental" to western viewers or to emphasize the brutality of the scene by choosing this exotic, serrated weapon.

Rembrandt had a great interest in collecting pieces from all over the world, which had certainly to do with the "Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie" that began to build a trade empire in East Asia. Unfortunately, he had to sell most of his pieces after the downturn of his fortunes.

Peter