Rembrandt van Rijn

A bright light pierces the deep shadows of night to reveal this dramatic, poignant scene. The dead body of Jesus, his foot still gruesomely nailed to the cross, is hoisted down by a group of followers. As one crowd member lifts his arms to receive the weight of the corpse, his hand catches the torchlight, puncturing the darkness.

Rembrandt was a master of chiaroscuro, or “dark manner” prints. He used lines and drypoint to build up areas of rich, velvety blacks from which partially lit figures emerge, creating a heightened atmosphere of mystery and drama.