Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was a Dutch painter, printmaker, and draftsman who lived in the 17th century. He is considered one of the greatest visual artists in the history of art and the most important in Dutch art history. Rembrandt produced about three hundred paintings, three hundred etchings, and two thousand drawings. He is known for his portraits, illustrations of biblical scenes, and self-portraits, as well as his innovative etchings and use of shadow and light. Rembrandt is considered a central figure in the Dutch Golden Age.