Rembrandt's Kris (?)

David · 26th May 2012, 05:06 PM

Ariel, i do see why you question this particular drawing, but as you can see from some of the other paintings that he did, he clearly is depicting a keris in some of those and i believe he is known to have had more than one in his personal collection. The blade in this drawing may or may not have been have been derived from one of his keris and i think it is also important to remember that these are paintings and drawings, not photographs, and artists will adapt, bend and change "reality" for their own artistic purposes. It is possible that he simply took certain elements for the keris form to create a completely nonexistent fantasy blade for this drawing that is only loosely based upon the keris. I am afraid that we will never know for sure.

26th May 2012, 05:06 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Ariel, i do see why you question this particular drawing, but as you can see from some of the other paintings that he did, he clearly is depicting a keris in some of those and i believe he is known to have had more than one in his personal collection. The blade in this drawing may or may not have been have been derived from one of his keris and i think it is also important to remember that these are paintings and drawings, not photographs, and artists will adapt, bend and change "reality" for their own artistic purposes. It is possible that he simply took certain elements for the keris form to create a completely nonexistent fantasy blade for this drawing that is only loosely based upon the keris. I am afraid that we will never know for sure.