This image is a dry point
etching called ‘The Station of the Cross (The Three Crosses). This print is by the
Dutch printmaker Rembrandt (1606-1669) in 1653. This print is
considered one of Rembrandt’s finest works, and this print represents the highlight of his career in printmaking.
This image is of the
fourth state of the etching. Rembrandt completely transformed the plate by
scraping away large areas of the print, completely changing the composition of
the original form. However, some of the first print is still visible underneath
the hatching. He covered the sky with strong parallel lines portraying beams of
light highlight the remaining figures on both sides. Also, the Christ's face
has been altered to show his mouth open and his eyes half-closed. Together,
these small changes alter the subject matter of the print. This change now
focuses your attention to the figure of Christ in the final moments before his
death. 
In earlier stages of
the print, we see the scene is total chaos. The cross is surrounded by busy
crowds, some of which are grieving family and friends. Here, Rembrandt altered
the composition by darkening and obscuring the crowd so that the central focus
is Christ on the cross. Rembrandt cast a dark light over the scene by working
over the entire plate with hatched lines, which creates an eerie atmosphere.
Rembrandt was a great
innovator and experimenter in this medium, often handling traditional materials
in unconventional ways, and I feel he still has a lasting impact on the
printmaking world today.
