Bed Time

2/6/2023

Rembrandt made this 7” x 8” etching, now in the Rijksmuseum, in 1646 while living in Amsterdam. Titled The French Bed (it’s the curtains), the explicit subject shocked Rembrandt fans, although he appears to treat the couple with amusement and tenderness, emphasizing the intimacy of the moment. You’ve no doubt noticed the woman has three arms. The artist never corrected this problem. Now it’s your turn. Which arm would you remove, and why?

5 Comments

Jody Dobson

2/6/2023 08:48:24 am

I would remove the passive left arm lying on the bed. The other left arm is actively engaged - consistent with the setting and the activity depicted.

Karin Rosenthal link

2/6/2023 08:51:49 am

I would remove the hand on the bed. Even though it echoes some detachment in her expression, it seems disproportionately small compared to the other hands. The image reads better without it.

Peter Graham

2/6/2023 04:11:11 pm

Keep the arm! From the look of the woman in the picture, it looks like she's having at least 50% more fun with the extra appendage!

Janet Amphlett

2/7/2023 06:12:27 am

At first I thought the third arm was the fingers gripping the mans head. then I realized...slowly!...there were three arms. It is so seamless! Could there be 4?! More then two people in the bed? We are all multiplicities and Rembrandt was such a psychological/emotional artist. I would never have noticed the third arm without you, Gene. Thank you!

Linda L Mulley

2/8/2023 06:28:50 am

This question allows for so much projection! I like that little hand, ticking away the time almost passively while the other two are a bit more engaged. Perhaps her mind is simply divided, as reflected by this little non-mistake on the part of the artist.

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Bed Time

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