Satan tempting Christ, to change stones into braed c. 1632 - 1633

This drawing, "Satan tempting Christ, to change stones into braed," was made by Rembrandt van Rijn. The sepia ink on paper gives the artwork a dynamic and unsettling quality. Rembrandt uses hatching and cross-hatching to build form and shadow, creating depth and volume. Notice how line variation affects the emotional tone, the heavier darker lines add weight and tension, especially around Satan who is in the foreground. The light, ethereal quality of Christ almost blends into the background, reflecting his spiritual purity and detachment from the material world. The composition, with figures arranged diagonally, draws the eye from left to right, accentuating the interaction between the two figures. Through the visual contrast of form and texture, Rembrandt captures the essence of temptation and spiritual defiance.