Reframing Rembrandt: When the Frame Should Honor—and Protect—the Art
How do you reframe a Rembrandt? That was the question behind a recent custom framing project at Page Waterman Gallery & Framing.
A customer entrusted us with their Rembrandt etching.
The work had already been framed in a smaller gold frame. Our objective wasn’t simply to replace one frame with another.
It was to reconsider the entire presentation—with respect for the character of the artwork, its history, and its long-term preservation.
Starting With the Artwork
Good custom framing doesn’t begin with the frame.
It begins with what is being framed.
"The Raising of Lazarus" by Rembrandt. Small plate.
For this project, that meant considering the period and character of Rembrandt's image, the scale of the work, the presentation it deserved, and the materials that would help protect it.
Rather than choosing a contemporary frame simply because it complemented the image aesthetically, we selected an authentic reproduction of a traditional Dutch-style frame.
The new frame gives the small work greater presence while creating a presentation that feels naturally connected to its Dutch origins.
The objective wasn't to make the frame the star.
It was to allow the frame to become an appropriate companion to the art.
Presentation was only part of the assignment.
Preservation mattered just as much.
For the glazing, we selected Optium Museum Acrylic®, a conservation-grade material used for valuable and sensitive artwork.
Its exceptional clarity minimizes distracting reflections so the viewer can experience the artwork itself, while its UV-filtering properties help protect the work from damaging ultraviolet light.
For a historic work on paper, those decisions matter.
What Would You Frame—or Reframe?
Perhaps there’s a painting on your wall whose frame has never felt quite right.
Maybe you inherited artwork already framed and have wondered whether it could be presented differently.
Or perhaps there’s something meaningful still waiting in a drawer, closet, portfolio, or box because you haven’t known what to do with it.
You don’t need to know what frame you want before you visit us.
Bring us what matters.
We’ll help you consider how it can be beautifully presented, appropriately protected, and enjoyed for years to come.
Page Waterman Gallery & Framing. Exceptionally Custom. Expertly Framed.
