What makes us human is the ability to recognize the good in others and, in turn, recognize the good in ourselves. There is a saying that whatever you think about another person is just a reflection of what you think about yourself; it's like looking in a mirror. Paintings can also act as mirrors; we can look at a painting and see the good in the subject depicted and, in turn, we can identify the same attributes in ourselves, allowing us to relate to the subject. Rembrandt and Vermeer managed to capture intersubjectivity in their paintings. In Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son (Fig. 1) and Aristotle (Fig. 2) and Vermeer's The Milkmaid (Fig. 3) and The Woman Weighing Pearls (Fig. 4), there is an autonomy that can be recognized in the painting as well as in us. Rembrandt suffered many hardships throughout his life, the deaths of his children and wives, bankruptcy and the sale of his estate; All these tribulations had personal meaning for him and are apparent in subtle ways in some of his paintings. One such painting that captures intersubjectivity is The Return of the Prodigal Son (Fig. 1); this painting represents compassion and forgiveness. At some point in everyone's life there has been a time when we were asked to forgive or had to ask for forgiveness, so this painting speaks to everyone. Rembrandt was able to capture the exact moment of the father's forgiveness and the son's penance. The father, with his downcast eyes, solemn expression and gentle embrace, indicates that he has truly forgiven his son and accepted him back into his home. In contrast, the son on his knees, burying his head in his father's chest, shows us appreciation and feeling... middle of paper... an individual human being, worthy of our own individual response" ( Weschler, p. When we look at these paintings it is easy for us to connect to the subject, they are all about the contemplation of life and death, choosing the right path for our highest good and. the best, forgiveness and pride in what you do Every day we face moral dilemmas and, for the most part, people choose to be good and do their best. These four tables allow us to. see intersubjectivity in others as well as in ourselves. Works Cited Gowing, Lawrence Vermeer. Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 1997. Rosenberg, Jakob. Life and Works London: Phaidon Publishers, 1964. Schneider, Norbert, 1632-1675: veiled emotions. Cologne: Taschen, 2007. Westermann, Mariët. Rembrandt. . Reprint, London: Phaidon, 2007.