The title of arguably the greatest portrait of the Dutch Baroque era is incorrect. The “Night Watch” is not a night scene at all since it’s actually set in the daytime. And the people in the painting are not a watch, they are just a band of civic militia guards.

And yet, this very painting is considered as the highlight of Rembrandt’s 600-painting long career. Why is it so? We explore this question below.

The history behind the painting

The original title of the famous painting is ‘Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq’. The painting was commissioned around 1639 by Captain Banning Cocq and seventeen members of his civic militia guards called Kloveniers. The painting was to be hung in the banquet hall of the newly built Kloveneirsdoelen, or the Musketeer's Meeting Hall, in Amsterdam.

In 1715, the painting was moved from the Kloveneirsdoelen to the Amsterdam Town Hall. After a brief period of back and forth between the Town Hall and the Trippenhuis, it finally moved to the new Rijksmuseum in 1885, where it’s been ever since.

Last year, the Rijksmuseum decided to undertake a multi-year restoration project under view. You can tune in to the live stream if you wish to see how this amazing piece of art is being restored to its eternal glory. However, there’s no activity on the screen right now as the project is still in the planning phase, so feel free to visit some top online casinos to play Live Roulette in the meantime.

Why is it Rembrandt’s Masterpiece?

The painting is famous for three things: its colossal size (11.91 ft x 14.34 ft), the dramatic use of light and shadow (chiaroscuro), and the perception of motion created by the portrait.

The massive canvas depicts the eponymous company moving out, led by Captain Frans Banninck Cocq and his lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch. The ensign Jan Visscher Cornelissen is holding aloft the company’s colours behind them. A total of 34 figures appear in the painting and nearly all of them are almost life-size.

After years of varnish and low light darkened the canvas, someone called it ‘The Night Watch’, and it stuck. In fact, the Night Watch was meant to be a daytime scene. Rembrandt masterfully used the contrast between light and shadows to create a dramatic effect. The lighting puts focus on the three characters that are key to the painting: the Captain, the Lieutenant, and the girl.

While the Captain’s hand points to the viewer, its shadow cradles the emblem of Amsterdam on the Lieutenant’s dress. The golden girl is also a symbolic element of the company; the chicken hanging from her waist has its claws positioned similarly to the Klovenier’s emblem.

Just like the common videography technique, the figures in the front are clear and detailed, while the composition seems to get softer and hazier in the back. This depth of field effect makes the Captain and his Lieutenant seem to be almost stepping out of the picture plane.

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, civic guard portraits became a genre of its own. However, Rembrandt’s ‘Night Watch’ stands apart from its peers because of the movement it creates. It’s almost as if the citizens have sprung to action upon the captain’s commands, performing various actions like arming themselves, raising the flag, and holding their pikes high.

Rembrandt’s masterpiece is unique, captivating, and downright genius, and whether you’re an appreciator of art or not, this painting will become a part of your memory.