Kruisiging: kleine plaat

The graphic work Kruisiging: kleine plaat (Crucifixion: small plate) by Rembrandt van Rijn, dated between 1633 and 1637, is a profound example of the artist’s mastery of the print medium during the Dutch Golden Age. Classified as a "Book" piece, this small-scale devotional image utilizes paper as its primary medium, likely being an etching or drypoint intended for private contemplation or inclusion within a bound folio. This period marks a high point in Rijn's early career in Leiden and Amsterdam, where he frequently experimented with the dramatic potential of light and shadow in his religious subjects.

Despite its diminutive size suggested by the title, the concentration of emotional energy and the technical complexity in this composition are characteristic of Rijn’s evolving style. The piece focuses sharply on the moment of the Crucifixion, demonstrating the artist’s signature ability to convey deep narrative meaning with minimal detail, drawing the viewer's eye to the figure of Christ through intense chiaroscuro.

As one of the many important religious prints created by the artist, this work showcases the delicate line work and deep textural effects Rijn achieved through his innovative etching techniques. These small devotional images were widely circulated during the seventeenth century, cementing Rijn's reputation as a printmaker far beyond the borders of the Netherlands.

The work is an important holding in the graphic arts collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it serves as a critical document illustrating the development of printmaking techniques in the 1630s. Today, high-quality digital versions of such historic masterworks frequently enter the public domain, allowing modern audiences worldwide to study the intimate details of Rijn’s early devotional art.