RemBench: A Digital Workbench for Rembrandt Research

In this paper, we present RemBench, a search engine for research into the life and works of Rembrandt van Rijn. RemBench combines the data from four different databases be- hind one interface using federated search technology. Metadata filtering is enabled through faceted search. RemBench enables art historians and other professionals interested in Rembrandt’s time to find all the information on Rembrandt that is available in online repositories through one application. The functionality and user interface of RemBench were developed in close collaboration with domain experts, and evaluated in a user study with nine students of history and art history. We found that the users were positive about the usability of RemBench, especially about its user interface and interaction design. We think that Rem- Bench sets an example for search engines in the digital humanities. Our most important recommendation is the use of federated search (with different types of results in different verticals) and faceted search in the art history domain. In addition, we recommend evaluation through a user observation study, which is already possible with a small number of participants.