To understand the mysteries of being human, look no further than Rembrandt

Question: What makes great art? Answer: No idea, but we know it when we see it. We knew it when we saw it at Tate Modern’s Matisse: The Cut-Outs earlier this year and we know it again at the National Gallery’s equally overwhelming Rembrandt: The Late Works. What the two exhibitions have in common, other than genius, is the old age of the artists. Forgive my preference, but age beats youth in most instances when it comes to art, which is why I was never much sold on the Young British Artists phenomenon. Maybe later, I thought. Maybe when they’ve lived a little and find themselves less interesting. You will tell me that the age of the eyes of the beholder has something to do with this. So be it. We that have lived so long know better how to look than those whose eyes have still to open. And better how to think as well. But I’m not looking for a fight. Fighting being the only thing the old don’t do as well as the young. That, and optimism.