Rembrandt produced more than 300 prints and created some of the greatest masterpieces in the history of printmaking. Here, he has used a tool called a drypoint needle to draw directly onto the copper etching plate, in some areas slashing deep into the metal to create forceful lines comparable to the bold brushstrokes of his painting. This print is a technical tour de force and represents the climax of Rembrandt’s remarkable and influential output as a printmaker. This is the fourth and final state of this print. At earlier stages, the scene is one of total chaos with jostling, grieving crowds. In this final version, the crowds have been obscured in shadow to convey the scenes symbolic darkness and to focus the viewer on Christ in the centre.