Keris and Rembrandt

A. G. Maisey · 15th April 2010, 02:54 PM

I have not seen the original of this painting, in fact, I have not even seen a good quality print of it.

All I have seen is the image in front of me on my computer screen.

I've Photoshopped that image through several magnifications and all I can see is a nondescript lump protruding from the mailed hand, and a very small section of flamboyant blade.

Based upon what I can see I would describe this dagger as simply one with a flamboyant blade.

I cannot see a keris anywhere.

stekemest · 15th April 2010, 03:36 PM

I know the original painting. It is in fact a keris, but I'm not knowledgeable enough to describe it in detail. Rembrandt was a collector of ethnographica, and he certainly painted a piece he owned himself.

A. G. Maisey · 15th April 2010, 03:56 PM

Thank you for this clarification, Stekemest.

So, in the original, it is possible to see the ganja and the assymetric base of the blade?

Gustav · 15th April 2010, 04:23 PM

Very probably I see there just what I used to see all the time I know this picture.

I thought, it were possible to see a difference between sirah cecak and buntut cecak, also a big pejetan (and wavy gonjo).

stekemest · 15th April 2010, 04:29 PM

Yes. This part is quite dark though, and it is hard to see all the details. I can try to get a better picture of this part.
The painting can be seen in the Städel Museum in Frankfurt. If anyone intends to go there, send me a message.

Rick · 15th April 2010, 04:54 PM

Here

David · 15th April 2010, 06:07 PM

Yes, i think this is clearly a keris and i hope that from the enlargements made you see this as well Alan. From the look of what i can see of the hilt i think it's a fair bet that it is the same keris Rembrandt depicts in this painting. From what i know he owned a couple of examples which he used as models for his paintings.

David · 15th April 2010, 06:14 PM

Here is another Rembrandt, a self-portrait, which is most commonly titles "Self-Portrait as an Oriental Pontentate With A Kris". Here we see an asymmetric blade and a rather vague Kacang Kembang, but the blade itself is a very unusal one and i have a feeling that some artistic license was taken here to create a fanasty keris based upon examples he had or had seen.

Rick · 15th April 2010, 06:18 PM

Okay, this begs the question ;

In the blinding of Sampson what does the use of a keris represent ?

In what light was the keris viewed by European culture in that time ?

15th April 2010, 04:23 PM	#4
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,308	Very probably I see there just what I used to see all the time I know this picture. I thought, it were possible to see a difference between sirah cecak and buntut cecak, also a big pejetan (and wavy gonjo). Attached Images

15th April 2010, 04:54 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,389	Here Attached Images

15th April 2010, 06:07 PM	#7
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,271	Yes, i think this is clearly a keris and i hope that from the enlargements made you see this as well Alan. From the look of what i can see of the hilt i think it's a fair bet that it is the same keris Rembrandt depicts in this painting. From what i know he owned a couple of examples which he used as models for his paintings. Attached Images

15th April 2010, 06:14 PM	#8
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,271	Here is another Rembrandt, a self-portrait, which is most commonly titles "Self-Portrait as an Oriental Pontentate With A Kris". Here we see an asymmetric blade and a rather vague Kacang Kembang, but the blade itself is a very unusal one and i have a feeling that some artistic license was taken here to create a fanasty keris based upon examples he had or had seen. Attached Images

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15th April 2010, 02:54 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,164	I have not seen the original of this painting, in fact, I have not even seen a good quality print of it. All I have seen is the image in front of me on my computer screen. I've Photoshopped that image through several magnifications and all I can see is a nondescript lump protruding from the mailed hand, and a very small section of flamboyant blade. Based upon what I can see I would describe this dagger as simply one with a flamboyant blade. I cannot see a keris anywhere.

15th April 2010, 03:36 PM	#2
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 186	I know the original painting. It is in fact a keris, but I'm not knowledgeable enough to describe it in detail. Rembrandt was a collector of ethnographica, and he certainly painted a piece he owned himself.

15th April 2010, 03:56 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,164	Thank you for this clarification, Stekemest. So, in the original, it is possible to see the ganja and the assymetric base of the blade?

15th April 2010, 04:29 PM	#5
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 186	Yes. This part is quite dark though, and it is hard to see all the details. I can try to get a better picture of this part. The painting can be seen in the Städel Museum in Frankfurt. If anyone intends to go there, send me a message.

15th April 2010, 06:18 PM	#9
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,389	Okay, this begs the question ; In the blinding of Sampson what does the use of a keris represent ? In what light was the keris viewed by European culture in that time ?