1642 · Baroque

The Night Watch

By Rembrandt van Rijn. Rembrandt converts a civic group portrait into a moving event, choreographing light, gesture and overlapping bodies across the enormous canvas.

Look closer

Rembrandt converts a civic group portrait into a moving event, choreographing light, gesture and overlapping bodies across the enormous canvas.

ArtistRembrandt van Rijn

Date1642

MediumOil on canvas

MovementBaroque

CollectionRijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Why it matters

Rembrandt converts a civic group portrait into a moving event, choreographing light, gesture and overlapping bodies across the enormous canvas.

See this work in context through Baroque and the Baroque period.