A group of seven men in dark clothing with broad white collars cluster around a pale, recumbent figure whose arm is being dissected. At the right, a man with a pointed beard and a wide-brimmed black hat gestures with a pair of metal forceps, his gaze directed toward the group. The dissected figure lies on a wooden table, his torso draped in white cloth, while the exposed muscles of his left forearm are rendered in striking detail and vivid reds.

The men’s faces are sharply illuminated against a deep, shadowy background, their expressions attentive and engaged as they look toward the demonstration. Each figure is individualized: some lean forward intently, one holds a sheet of paper, and another stands slightly apart at the back, his hand resting on the shoulder of a colleague. Light falls from the upper left, picking out the crisp folds of the collars, the sheen of the dissecting tools, and the anatomical precision of the opened arm.

The composition arranges the figures in an arc, focusing attention on the instructor and the dissected limb, while the rest of the canvas recedes into darkness. Rembrandt’s brushwork is smooth and precise in the faces and hands, while the background is soft and indistinct, creating a dramatic contrast between the illuminated group and the enveloping gloom. The palette is dominated by blacks, whites, and flesh tones, with the only bright color coming from the red and yellow hues of the exposed muscles.

Fine details such as the delicate lace at the cuffs, the subtle modeling of the skin, and the reflections on the surgical instruments demonstrate careful observation and technical skill. The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Tulp is painted by Rembrandt, whose name appears in the title and creator fields.