The Descent from the Cross by Torchlight, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1654
etching, h 210mm × w 162mm More details
The men taking Christ down from the cross after his death use a linen sheet to carefully lower his body. They are lit by a figure under the ladder holding a torch, the only light source in the scene. Everything directly around the flame is brightly illuminated, while details somewhat further away quickly vanish in the darkness of the night.
