The Descent from the Cross

Rembrandt's The Descent from the Cross centers on a tall wooden cross from which a lifeless body is being lowered, with several figures gathered at its base to assist and observe. The scene is lit by a single, directional light that slices dark surroundings, illuminating pale flesh and white drapery while the background remains deep and shadowy, creating a pronounced chiaroscuro and a diagonal cross-leaning composition. The handling is painterly and intimate, with expressive gestures and subdued earth tones that emphasize emotion and humanity within a somber Baroque vision.