ROCHESTER, NY.- An exhibition of 39 rare etchings by 17th-century Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn opens February 26 at the Memorial Art Gallery. The works are on loan from Baltimore cardiologist Dr. Morton Mower and his wife, Tobia Mower, whose fascination with Rembrandt's innovative techniques and mastery of printmaking led to the formation of an extraordinary private collection.

The selection explore the versatility of Rembrandt's style as well as the breadth of his subjects, which range from scenes of daily life, portraits, landscapes, and historical and biblical narratives. As Dr. Mower has noted, "Etching was the photography of Rembrandt’s day, and he gives us a window into both the everyday life and cosmopolitan themes that captured his imagination."

"Rembrandt. Master Etchings from the Collection of Tobia and Dr. Morton Mower" remains on view through May 23.

This exhibition showcases rare etchings loaned by Baltimore cardiologist Dr. Morton Mower and his wife, Tobia. The Mowers’ fascination with Rembrandt’s innovative techniques led to the formation of their extraordinary private collection, which explores the versatility of Rembrandt’s style as well as the breadth of his subjects.

Widely recognized as one of the greatest artists of all time, Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) symbolizes the period of European history known as “The Dutch Golden Age.”A rising merchant class, made wealthy through active international trade, provided material support for the flourishing artistic communities in the cities of Leiden and Amsterdam.

Although Rembrandt is most famous for his paintings and drawings, he was also a gifted graphic artist whose mastery of etching remains influential today. He experimented with numerous techniques and mastered luminous effects in order to make his prints more expressive. Rembrandt’s command of the medium helped him reach his personal goal to capture, as he described in 1639, “the greatest and most natural emotion” in his art.