Rembrandt's 'Night Watch' Undergoes Historic Restoration at Rijksmuseum

The public can witness the meticulous removal of varnish as part of the largest restoration project ever for the 1642 masterpiece.

The restoration, known as Operation Night Watch, is taking place in a specially designed glass chamber at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The project follows five years of research using advanced techniques like digital imaging and artificial intelligence to understand the painting's original state.
Restorers are carefully removing varnish applied during a 1975 restoration, aiming to reveal the painting's true colors and preserve it for future generations.
The Night Watch, originally titled 'Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq,' is a symbol of Dutch Golden Age art.
Over two million visitors annually view the painting, which has been attacked and restored multiple times throughout its history.