Did you know that Rembrandt likely took years to paint The Night Watch?

Rembrandt began the painting in 1639, and it was completed in 1642, after being commissioned by the militia company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq.

Estimates of how much time Rembrandt needed to paint The Night Watch vary widely, ranging from several months to two years, and sometimes even three years. This longer estimate is often questioned. The estimate of three years is likely based on the painting’s complexity, which includes aspects such as:

• Light and shadow (chiaroscuro)
• Composition and dynamics (a scene full of action and movement)
• Detail and realism (clothing, weapons, and facial expressions of the figures)
• Symbolism and narrative elements
• Use of color
• Size and scale
• Innovation in group portraits

The painting is officially titled “The Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburgh Preparing to March Out.”

The photo accompanying this article is from commons.wikimedia.org