VOA文化艺术2023--Artist Puts Work of Famous Dutch Painter on People’s Skin

Artist Puts Work of Famous Dutch Painter on People’s Skin

Henk Schiffmacher is a famous Dutch tattoo¹ artist. That means he draws pictures in permanent ink on people's skin.

Recently, he created the design of an elephant on Lilian Rachmaran's back.

"Highbrow to lowbrow" is how the artist described his latest project. The project involves "inking" artwork by Rembrandt van Rijn onto the skin of visitors to the building the famous Dutch painter once called home.

The Rembrandt House Museum has changed one of its rooms into a tattoo area for something it calls, "The Poor Man's Rembrandt." The one-week event involves Schiffmacher and other top Amsterdam tattoo artists.

For between about $54 and $270, visitors can get their own permanent reminder² of Rembrandt.

Schiffmacher told The Associated Press, "It's a juxtaposition³ — a jump from high to low, from highbrow to lowbrow." He added, "And it's great that these two worlds can visit one another. Actually, it's really one world because it's about art."

Museum Director Milou Halbesma said the event is a way of bringing new visitors to the historic⁴ house and getting people closer to the artist.

"I think it's a very good...way to have your own Rembrandt," she said.

The event has already proved a hit. All appointments available online were filled within 10 minutes, she said. However, there are still some spots available for people who walk into the museum and wait their turn.

Schiffmacher and others have taken some of Rembrandt's drawings and changed them to work for tattooing⁵. For example, the artists make lines thinner, so they do not grow together as the skin of the tattooed⁶ person ages.

The tattoo artists see similarities between their work and the artist's quick drawings — but there is one big difference.

"The canvas⁷ is different," Schiffmacher said. "The canvas can talk to you, move too much, float, even faint. That didn't happen for Rembrandt."

Rachmaran works at the museum. She was the first person in Schiffmacher's chair.

She got his version of one of Rembrandt's famous drawings of an Asian elephant. The creature, named Hansken, first arrived in Amsterdam in 1633 on a ship from Ceylon — now Sri Lanka — as a gift for the Prince of Orange.

Rachmaran said, "I love the animals, they're so spiritual and smart..."

Speaking about her tattoo, Rachmaran added, "I'm very honored to have one made by Henk himself."

Words in This Story

tattoo – n. a picture that is drawn⁸ on a person's skin by using a needle and ink

museum – n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public

juxtaposition – n. the act of placing (different things) together in order to create an interesting effect

1 tattoo   

n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于

参考例句：

• I've decided to get my tattoo removed.我已经决定去掉我身上的纹身。
• He had a tattoo on the back of his hand.他手背上刺有花纹。

2 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

3 juxtaposition   

n.毗邻，并置，并列

参考例句：

• The juxtaposition of these two remarks was startling.这两句话连在一起使人听了震惊。
• It is the result of the juxtaposition of contrasting colors.这是并列对比色的结果。

4 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

5 tattooing   

n.刺字，文身v.刺青，文身( tattoo的现在分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击

参考例句：

• tattooing and body piercing 文身和穿体装饰
• On earth most work of the absolute shy cattle ^s skin-tattooing world! 地球上最牛的纹身绝对惊世之作！ 来自互联网

6 tattooed   

v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击

参考例句：

• He had tattooed his wife's name on his upper arm. 他把妻子的名字刺在上臂上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sailor had a heart tattooed on his arm. 那水兵在手臂上刺上一颗心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 canvas   

n.粗帆布，一块油画布

参考例句：

• The times that people used canvas boat have become history.人们用帆船的时代已成为历史。
• Smith painted an oil painting on the canvas.史密斯在画布上画了一幅油画。

8 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。