The Nachtwacht

One of the most extraordinary works of art in the Rijksmuseum is undoubtedly "The Night Watch". Painted by Dutch grandmaster Rembrandt van Rijn, this masterpiece saw the light of day in 1642. With its imposing dimensions of almost 16 square metres, executed in oil paint, this canvas immediately attracts attention.

"The Night Watch" shows the company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburgh, surrounded by their men. What makes this painting so special goes beyond the surface. Rembrandt's masterful use of light highlights important details, such as the prominent figure in front and the girl next to him. 

The composition of "The Night Watch" reveals depth and movement. The men are depicted in successive rows, emphasising the sense of a dynamic moment of action. This approach, together with the sophisticated lighting, led to the artwork's vivid naming.

Interestingly, Rembrandt received around 1,600 guilders for his masterpiece, as each gunman paid 100 guilders to be immortalised on the canvas. It is complicated to express the value of this kind of masterpiece in a number but the current value of "The Night Watch" is estimated to be around 500 million euros. Surely that is a bit more than the 1600 guilders this Rembrandt got for it at the time!

Over the years, "The Night Watch" has undergone several restorations to preserve its original splendour. One noteworthy incident took place in 1975, when a confused man damaged the painting with twelve stabbings. Expert restoration, however, efficiently removed all traces of damage, so that the masterpiece now shines in its untouchable glory.