The Death of the Virgin

The Death of the Virgin, created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1639, is a profound and intensely atmospheric example of the artist's mastery of the etching medium. This print, classified under the culture of the Netherlands, depicts the biblical moment of the Dormition, or the passing of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by grieving apostles, family members, and attending figures.

Rijn used the etching technique to achieve complex contrasts and subtle gradations of shadow, successfully translating his famous dramatic lighting style-often called chiaroscuro-into the medium of printmaking. The composition is focused tightly around the high bed of the Virgin, who is dimly illuminated by an unseen celestial light source. Heavy cross-hatching and deep lines surround the immediate scene, pushing the background figures and setting into relative obscurity. The composition uses this sharp contrast of light and dark to amplify the solemnity and emotional gravity of the event, distinguishing the sacred occurrence while grounding it in human experience.

Unlike earlier, more idealized Renaissance depictions of this subject, Rijn presents the scene with a realistic psychological depth characteristic of the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age. An angel appears in the upper left corner, confirming the celestial nature of the transition, while the physical presence of the Virgin and the grieving attendants reinforces the solemnity of the moment. Rijn produced numerous religious subjects throughout his career, distributing these celebrated prints widely throughout the Netherlands. This specific impression of The Death of the Virgin is housed within the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art and, due to the age of the original plate, is frequently accessed by researchers and available in the public domain.