A free virtual exhibition of 15 works by Rembrandt van Rijn that you can walk through in your browser, on desktop or phone, with nothing to install. Alongside portraits such as Old Man with a Gold Chain, the room is rich in works on paper, including the celebrated etching The Three Trees.
About Rembrandt van Rijn
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606–1669) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman and printmaker, and the leading figure of the Dutch Golden Age. Born in Leiden, he moved to Amsterdam in the early 1630s, where he quickly became a sought-after portraitist. He is famous for his dramatic use of light and shadow, his penetrating self-portraits and large works such as The Night Watch (1642). Rembrandt was also one of the most inventive printmakers in history. He made around three hundred etchings, often reworking the plates through several states, and exploited drypoint and selective wiping of ink to create rich, velvety tones. His subjects ranged from biblical stories and portraits to landscapes, nudes and everyday scenes. Despite financial difficulties late in life, he continued to paint with extraordinary depth, and his influence on later artists has been immense.
Highlights in this room
The Three Trees
Rembrandt's largest landscape etching, dated 1643, shows three trees on a rise under a stormy sky, with diagonal lines of rain on the left. Small figures, a fisherman and a pair of lovers, are hidden in the landscape. It is one of the most dramatic prints of the seventeenth century.
The Shell
Rembrandt's only still-life etching, from 1650, depicts a single cone shell. He famously reversed the spiral, because the etched image prints as a mirror of the plate. Its fine hatching and deep shadow make a small object feel monumental.
Jan Uytenbogaert, "The Goldweigher"
This 1639 etching portrays a tax official of Amsterdam receiving bags of money at his desk. The contrast between the brightly lit face and the dark interior shows how Rembrandt brought his painterly chiaroscuro to printmaking.
Old Man with a Gold Chain
In this early painting, an old man in a plumed cap and heavy chain looks out from warm shadow. Studies of expressive heads like this, known as tronies, were a specialty of the young Rembrandt and show his early mastery of texture and light.
How to enjoy the exhibition
- Get close to the etched line. Walk up to a work and follow the fine hatching; tone in Rembrandt's prints is built entirely from lines.
- Look for the ink. In some impressions, a thin film of ink was left on the plate to create mood. Notice where areas feel softer or darker.
- Search for small figures. The landscapes hide travellers, lovers and farmhouses. Take your time to find them.
- Compare paint and print. Move between the portraits and the etchings to see how the same handling of light appears in both media.
- Read the labels. Click a work to read its label; dates and titles help you follow the range of his subjects over time.
If you are new to exhibitions like this, here is a short guide to what a virtual gallery is.
Create a room like this for your own work
This room was built with Xibit360, the same tool any artist can use. You can light and frame each work individually, set the mood with themes and layouts, exhibit video works alongside still images, and embed the finished room on your own website. A printmaker or draughtsman can light works on paper softly so every line reads clearly. It is free to start, and upgrades are one-time purchases, with no subscription.
Know an artist who should see this?
If you know a painter, printmaker or photographer whose work deserves a space like this, send them this page. They can walk through the room above to see what is possible, and picture their own work on the walls.
FAQ
Is the Rembrandt virtual exhibition free?
Yes. The exhibition is free to visit in your browser, and you can walk through all 15 works at your own pace.
Can I view it on my phone?
Yes. The same walkable space works on desktop and on phone, so you can explore the room wherever you are.
Does the exhibition include Rembrandt's etchings?
Yes. The room features several of his best-known prints, including The Three Trees, The Shell, The Goldweigher and Jupiter and Antiope: The Larger Plate, alongside paintings and drawings.