Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) may not be the first artist you think of sharing with children, but I’ve come across a few picture books that might make him more accessible.
Rembrandt and the Boy Who Drew Dogs by Molly Blaisdell, illustrated by Nancy Lane (B.E.S. Publishing, 2008)
Rembrandt’s son Titus wants to learn to sketch and paint, but his father doesn’t have time to teach him. Finally Rembrandt gives in and Titus gets lessons. He then works hard until he can draw realistic dogs. I like that the story shows the value of persistence even though Titus never became a famous artist. The book ends with a one-page bio of Rembrandt and a list of the nine Rembrandt paintings included in the book (dropped right into the book’s colourful illustrations). Recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Hana in the Time of the Tulips by Deborah Noyes, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline (Candlewick Press, 2004)
Hana’s father is a friend of Rembrandt and a merchant caught up in the tulip craze of 17th century Holland. The story is more about family and economics than art, as Hana tries to cheer her father up during his business struggles. The serious tone and sombre illustrations make this picture book better for older children. I think even adults will learn a lot about the time period. A one-page author’s note explains “tulipomania” (1634-1637). Recommended for ages 7 to 10.
A Weekend with Rembrandt by Pascal Bonafoux (Rizzoli International Publications, 1992)
The text of this book alternates between a first-person narrative, in which Rembrandt talks about his life and paintings, and other paragraphs (in italics) that give more info and historical context. The story brings Rembrandt to life, as he denies being grouchy, makes art for it’s own sake, refuses to visit Italy, and spends all his money on art. This is a good resource for how prints are made and how to look at paintings. It includes a paragraph about approximately a dozen museums around the world that hold Rembrandt paintings; a timeline of his life; and a list of illustrations. Recommended for ages 10 to 12.