"There are almost sixty sheets in the Rijksmuseum's collection of Rembrandt drawings, making it one of the largest in the world. They are all illustrated in colour for the first time in this Dossier. The highly readable text discusses them against the background of 17th-century ideas about the art of drawing. At that time, drawing was regarded as the essential foundation of all the arts : a painter who could not draw well would never get far. The course he had to follow to achieve this skill is reflected in Rembrandt's drawn oeuvre. The book looks at this aspect, too, and at the many ways drawings could be used. It will come as no surprise that Rembrandt dominates this story : he was simply and indisputably the most talented draughtsman in 17th-century Holland." -- from back wrapper. Text in by Marijn Shapelhouman. Printed in color. Text in English.