In Rembrandt’s early Artist in His Studio, the artist, clad in his smock and armed with brush and palette, stands at a distance from the easel. For years I have described this painting as a picture of thought. The artist is not depicted in the act of painting, applying paint to the picture before him; instead, he considers what he has already done—or what he will do. Rembrandt argues that making art is every bit as intellectual as it is technical, a product of the mind as much as the hand.

Now, as I sit at home, contemplating this image on my screen instead of in person, I see something different: this picture seems to express a pause. The artist rests his right hand at his side. He has stopped what he is doing. He considers his next move.

Today, we are all are paused. As a society, through self-isolation, we have taken a break from our regular activities and interactions. We wait anxiously for this unprecedented moment to pass, as it peaks and declines.

A pause is different from a stop, though. It is a temporary suspension of action. It will end, and we will resume. As Rembrandt shows us, a pause can be a time for contemplation and consideration—a momentary step back to look at the picture. We can use it purposefully to plan what comes next.

For MFA staff and visitors alike, this is a moment to reflect and set a course to better understand our changed world, and each other, through the art in our global collections and the stories they tell. Rembrandt, one of the great illuminators of the human condition, helps us see that a pause for thought nurtures creativity and clarity. In that, I find tremendous hope.