Magician.

You see, in The Syndics, Rembrandt is true to life, although even there he still goes into the higher — into the very highest — infinite. But yet — Rembrandt could do something else — when he didn’t have to be true in the literal sense, as he did in a portrait — when he could — make poetry — be a poet, that’s to say Creator. That’s what he is in The Jewish Bride. Oh, how Delacroix would have understood that very painting! What a noble sentiment, fathomlessly deep. One must have died many times to paint like this — is certainly applicable here. Still — one can speak about the paintings by Frans Hals, he always remains — on Earth. Rembrandt goes so deep into the mysterious that he says things for which there are no words in any language.  It is with justice that they call Rembrandt — magician — that’s no easy occupation.

Vincent van Gogh in a letter to his brother, Theo, 10 October 1885