By HOLLAND COTTER Published: January 8, 2009 In the 17th century the Netherlands was the most prosperous country in Europe. Then at midpoint of the century, partly because of a draining war, the bubble burst. The Dutch art market, at its zenith, collapsed. People thought, "Oh, it's just a phase." It wasn't. The golden age of Dutch art was over. Rembrandt was hit especially hard. A decade earlier he had been a star, with a client waiting list a mile long. Amsterdam, like New York today, was a town of culture-craving burghers who had to have -- had to have -- a Rembrandt in their homes. So he turned himself into an art machine, piled on assistants to finish off work, and became very rich.
In the 17th century the Netherlands was the most prosperous country in Europe. Then at midpoint of the century, partly because of a draining war, the bubble burst. The Dutch art market, at its zenith, collapsed. People thought, "Oh, it's just a phase." It wasn't. The golden age of Dutch art was over.
Rembrandt was hit especially hard. A decade earlier he had been a star, with a client waiting list a mile long. Amsterdam, like New York today, was a town of culture-craving burghers who had to have -- had to have -- a Rembrandt in their homes. So he turned himself into an art machine, piled on assistants to finish off work, and became very rich.
