Christ on the cross

Rembrandt painted Christ on the Cross in 1631, an early religious work from the period when he was establishing himself as a painter of biblical subjects. The painting's stark, dramatic treatment of the Crucifixion — isolated against darkness with Christ's body illuminated by a single light source — demonstrates Rembrandt's ability to convey the theological significance of the Crucifixion through chiaroscuro alone. Now in the Church of St. Vincent in Mas-d'Agenais, France.

The dark, atmospheric background isolates the illuminated figure of Christ, with the dramatic contrast between the pale body and the surrounding darkness creating an intimate, devotional image.