Bernard Brenninkmeijer (1893–1976), founder of the Liberna Collection, had a particular passion for collecting etchings by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669). Landscape with the Three Trees is considered Rembrandt’s largest and most ambitious landscape etching. With its powerful chiaroscuro, i.e. its effects of light and shadow, it comes close to painting. In contrast to his earlier sketch-like View of Amsterdam, Rembrandt here combines the techniques of etching, engraving and drypoint to arrive at a much more dramatic representation. Sunlight is breaking through the clouds from the right and thereby seems to be pushing away the gloomy storm. In the rising haze of sunshine, a sweeping, typically Dutch landscape becomes visible and on closer inspection reveals the figures of animals and people. The silhouette of Amsterdam can be made out in the background. Whether the three trees can be interpreted as crosses or the Trinity, and whether the departing storm can be read as a Christian symbol or as the victory of good over evil, have been the subject of much debate. Rembrandt’s deeper intention nevertheless remains unclear to this day.