Why is it called Rembrandt lighting?

Rembrandt lighting is called that due to the Dutch painter Rembrandt, who popularized it with his oil paintings. Rembrandt was well known for creating scenes with mostly dark backgrounds and dramatic white lighting. You can see examples of this in his works, like The Return of the Prodigal Son and The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp. Director Cecil B. DeMille coined the term, and it is now widely used in both studio photography and cinematography. Find a variety of fine art from some of the world's top galleries and dealers on 1stDibs.