Rijksmuseum Amsterdam I

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam I is a classic example of the work of Thomas Struth. The young woman, whose clothes seem to match those of the figures in Rembrandt's painting, stares out just beyond the viewer. The figures in the painting appear to follow her gaze. The tables have been turned: usually the viewer is given the full narrative within the frame. However here, one senses the main activity is occuring beyone the viewer's range of sight. Struth is playing off of the painting by Rembrandt, which was designed to hold the viewers gaze directly. The young woman instead turns her back on Rembrandt, and directs her curiosity towards the presence of the contemporary artist. The Rembrandt portrait stares at her, as she stares at Struth, who in turn watches her while we, as viewers observe the whole scene. Perhaps where this picture differs from similar ones in this series is in the lack of spontaneity, blurring the boundaries between Struth's museum series and the artist's earlier portrait series.