Night Watch

“The Night Watch,” painted by Rembrandt in 1642, is one of his most famous and celebrated works. Officially titled “Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banning Cocq,” this large-scale canvas depicts a group of Amsterdam’s civic militia, led by Captain Cocq and his lieutenant, Willem van Ruytenburch. The painting is renowned for its dramatic use of light and shadow, known as chiaroscuro, which creates a sense of movement and depth. Rembrandt’s innovative composition breaks from traditional static group portraits by arranging the figures in a dynamic and lively manner, capturing a moment of action and making the scene come alive. The painting is housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and remains a significant highlight of Rembrandt’s oeuvre and Baroque art.