Christ Crucified Between the Two Thieves: 'The Three Crosses'
1653
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This drypoint print shows three crosses on a dark hill, Christ in the center. The crowd below blurs into swirling lines, leaving only Christ’s body lit by a faint glow. The plate was reworked four times—each change made the scene darker and more dramatic. Rembrandt used drypoint, scratching lines into metal to hold ink. Later states deepen shadows over the faces of the thieves and spectators. Notice how the light cuts across Christ’s body, making him stand out. Want to see more like it? Look up Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669).
