Rembrandt made The Three Crosses using etching.
The print depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ with the two criminals, or thieves, on either side. Rembrandt created it in 1653 and later altered the plate substantially, producing states that differ in darkness, arrangement, and emphasis.
Etching allowed him to draw lines into a wax-coated metal plate and then use acid to bite those lines into the surface. He could combine this process with drypoint and engraving-like effects, but the print is classed fundamentally as an etching.
The Three Crosses is particularly admired for its dramatic tonal range. In later states, Rembrandt increased the surrounding darkness, concentrating attention on Christ and the figures beneath the crosses. The print is among his most important graphic works.