This escapes most viewers of this period, but is clear to the original target audience: surgeons in the 17th century . The painting was intended for an Amsterdam surgeon's office. A space that was not accessible to others. The client, Nicolaes Tulp himself, was therefore able to focus the message, and all the symbolism that clarifies that message, directly on that target audience.
One of the symbols is the book by the renowned 16th century physician Andreas Vesalius, one of the founders of modern anatomy. The book contains an image of an openwork arm. Rembrandt has Tulp dissect an arm as a reference to that image from Vesalius' book. With this painting, Dr. Tulp wanted to say that he was at least as good as Vesalius. Something that will now completely escape most people.
Symbols and icons are also valuable for social advertising . They can reinforce your message and immediately evoke recognition among your target group. However, realize that you can also exclude other target groups: those who do not recognize the visual language or symbolism. Of course, that does not have to be a disadvantage. With specific symbolism, you can reinforce the 'we-feeling' of your target group and your brand.
3. Choose the right advertising format
The way in which people would first see the painting was also clear to him from phone number list the start. The painting was intended for a wall that was on the viewer's right when entering. Rembrandt played with perspective: from that 'entrance position' the body is depicted in such a way that the viewer who enters the space experiences depth. The feet of the corpse almost literally come towards you. That choice has a price: seen from the other side of the painting, the proportions of the corpse are no longer correct. From that angle, the body seems to have shrunk.