diff --git a/callbacks.c b/callbacks.c
index 526a687..5b29da3 100644
--- a/callbacks.c
+++ b/callbacks.c
@@ -69,13 +69,8 @@ cb_view_vadjustment_value_changed(GtkAdjustment *adjustment, gpointer data)
         || ( (begin >= lower) && (end >= upper) && (begin <= upper) ) /* [> begin of the page is in viewport <] */
       ) {
       page->visible = true;
-      if (page->surface == NULL) {
-        render_page(zathura->sync.render_thread, page);
-      }
     } else {
       page->visible = false;
-      cairo_surface_destroy(page->surface);
-      page->surface = NULL;
     }
 
     free(offset);
diff --git a/document.c b/document.c
index e2b5572..fb96f4d 100644
--- a/document.c
+++ b/document.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "zathura.h"
 #include "render.h"
 #include "database.h"
+#include "page_view_widget.h"
 
 #include <girara/datastructures.h>
 #include <girara/utils.h>
@@ -432,16 +433,10 @@ zathura_page_get(zathura_document_t* document, unsigned int page_id)
   if (page != NULL) {
     page->number       = page_id;
     page->visible      = false;
-    page->event_box    = gtk_event_box_new();
-    page->drawing_area = gtk_drawing_area_new();
-    page->surface      = NULL;
+    page->drawing_area = zathura_page_view_new(page);
     page->document     = document;
-    g_signal_connect(page->drawing_area, "expose-event", G_CALLBACK(page_expose_event), page);
 
     gtk_widget_set_size_request(page->drawing_area, page->width * document->scale, page->height * document->scale);
-    gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(page->event_box), page->drawing_area);
-
-    g_static_mutex_init(&(page->lock));
   }
 
   return page;
@@ -459,8 +454,6 @@ zathura_page_free(zathura_page_t* page)
     return false;
   }
 
-  g_static_mutex_free(&(page->lock));
-
   return page->document->functions.page_free(page);
 }
 
diff --git a/document.h b/document.h
index 64e205d..00dcc14 100644
--- a/document.h
+++ b/document.h
@@ -162,10 +162,7 @@ struct zathura_page_s
   zathura_document_t* document; /**< Document */
   void* data; /**< Custom data */
   bool visible; /**< Page is visible */
-  GtkWidget* event_box; /**< Widget wrapper for mouse events */
   GtkWidget* drawing_area; /**< Drawing area */
-  GStaticMutex lock; /**< Lock */
-  cairo_surface_t* surface; /** Cairo surface */
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/page_view_widget.c b/page_view_widget.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f72de5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/page_view_widget.c
@@ -0,0 +1,212 @@
+/* See LICENSE file for license and copyright information */
+
+#include "page_view_widget.h"
+#include "render.h"
+#include <girara/macros.h>
+#include <girara/utils.h>
+#include <girara/settings.h>
+
+G_DEFINE_TYPE(ZathuraPageView, zathura_page_view, GTK_TYPE_DRAWING_AREA)
+
+typedef struct zathura_page_view_private_s {
+  zathura_page_t* page;
+  zathura_t* zathura;
+  cairo_surface_t* surface; /** Cairo surface */
+  GStaticMutex lock; /**< Lock */
+} zathura_page_view_private_t;
+
+#define ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW_GET_PRIVATE(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_INSTANCE_GET_PRIVATE ((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_PAGE_VIEW, zathura_page_view_private_t))
+
+static gboolean zathura_page_view_expose(GtkWidget* widget, GdkEventExpose* event);
+static void zathura_page_view_finalize(GObject* object);
+static void zathura_page_view_set_property(GObject* object, guint prop_id, const GValue* value, GParamSpec* pspec);
+static void zathura_page_view_size_allocate(GtkWidget* widget, GdkRectangle* allocation);
+
+enum properties_e
+{
+  PROP_0,
+  PROP_PAGE
+};
+
+static void
+zathura_page_view_class_init(ZathuraPageViewClass* class)
+{
+  /* add private members */
+  g_type_class_add_private(class, sizeof(zathura_page_view_private_t));
+
+  /* overwrite methods */
+  GtkWidgetClass* widget_class = GTK_WIDGET_CLASS(class);
+  widget_class->expose_event = zathura_page_view_expose;
+  widget_class->size_allocate = zathura_page_view_size_allocate;
+
+  GObjectClass* object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS(class);
+  object_class->finalize = zathura_page_view_finalize;
+  object_class->set_property = zathura_page_view_set_property;
+
+  /* add properties */
+  g_object_class_install_property(object_class, PROP_PAGE,
+      g_param_spec_pointer("page", "page", "the page to draw", G_PARAM_WRITABLE | G_PARAM_CONSTRUCT_ONLY));
+}
+
+static void
+zathura_page_view_init(ZathuraPageView* widget)
+{
+  zathura_page_view_private_t* priv = ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW_GET_PRIVATE(widget);
+  priv->page = NULL;
+  priv->surface = NULL;
+  g_static_mutex_init(&(priv->lock));
+
+  /* we want mouse events */
+  gtk_widget_add_events(GTK_WIDGET(widget),
+    GDK_BUTTON_PRESS_MASK | GDK_BUTTON_RELEASE_MASK | GDK_POINTER_MOTION_MASK);
+}
+
+GtkWidget*
+zathura_page_view_new(zathura_page_t* page)
+{
+  g_return_val_if_fail(page != NULL, NULL);
+
+  return g_object_new(ZATHURA_TYPE_PAGE_VIEW, "page", page);
+}
+
+static void
+zathura_page_view_finalize(GObject* object)
+{
+  ZathuraPageView* widget = ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW(object);
+  zathura_page_view_private_t* priv = ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW_GET_PRIVATE(widget);
+  if (priv->surface) {
+    cairo_surface_destroy(priv->surface);
+  }
+  g_static_mutex_free(&(priv->lock));
+
+  G_OBJECT_CLASS(zathura_page_view_parent_class)->finalize(object);
+}
+
+static void
+zathura_page_view_set_property(GObject* object, guint prop_id, const GValue* value, GParamSpec* pspec)
+{
+  ZathuraPageView* pageview = ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW(object);
+  zathura_page_view_private_t* priv = ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW_GET_PRIVATE(pageview);
+
+  switch (prop_id) {
+    case PROP_PAGE:
+      priv->page = g_value_get_pointer(value);
+      priv->zathura = priv->page->document->zathura;
+      break;
+    default:
+      G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID(object, prop_id, pspec);
+  }
+}
+
+static gboolean
+zathura_page_view_expose(GtkWidget* widget, GdkEventExpose* event)
+{
+  cairo_t* cairo = gdk_cairo_create(widget->window);
+  if (cairo == NULL) {
+    girara_error("Could not retreive cairo object");
+    return FALSE;
+  }
+
+  /* set clip region */
+  cairo_rectangle(cairo, event->area.x, event->area.y, event->area.width, event->area.height);
+  cairo_clip(cairo);
+
+  zathura_page_view_private_t* priv = ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW_GET_PRIVATE(widget);
+  g_static_mutex_lock(&(priv->lock));
+  if (priv->surface != NULL) {
+    cairo_save(cairo);
+
+    unsigned int page_height = widget->allocation.height;
+    unsigned int page_width = widget->allocation.width;
+    if (priv->page->document->rotate % 180) {
+      page_height = widget->allocation.width;
+      page_width = widget->allocation.height;
+    }
+
+    girara_info("h %d, w %d", page_height, page_width);
+
+    switch (priv->page->document->rotate) {
+      case 90:
+        cairo_translate(cairo, page_width, 0);
+        break;
+      case 180:
+        cairo_translate(cairo, page_width, page_height);
+        break;
+      case 270:
+        cairo_translate(cairo, 0, page_height);
+        break;
+    }
+
+    if (priv->page->document->rotate != 0) {
+      cairo_rotate(cairo, priv->page->document->rotate * G_PI / 180.0);
+    }
+
+    cairo_set_source_surface(cairo, priv->surface, 0, 0);
+    cairo_paint(cairo);
+
+    cairo_restore(cairo);
+  } else {
+    /* set background color */
+    cairo_set_source_rgb(cairo, 255, 255, 255);
+    cairo_rectangle(cairo, 0, 0, widget->allocation.width, widget->allocation.height);
+    cairo_fill(cairo);
+
+    bool render_loading = true;
+    girara_setting_get(priv->zathura->ui.session, "render-loading", &render_loading);
+
+    /* write text */
+    if (render_loading == true) {
+      cairo_set_source_rgb(cairo, 0, 0, 0);
+      const char* text = "Loading...";
+      cairo_select_font_face(cairo, "Sans", CAIRO_FONT_SLANT_NORMAL, CAIRO_FONT_WEIGHT_NORMAL);
+      cairo_set_font_size(cairo, 16.0);
+      cairo_text_extents_t extents;
+      cairo_text_extents(cairo, text, &extents);
+      double x = widget->allocation.width * 0.5 - (extents.width * 0.5 + extents.x_bearing);
+      double y = widget->allocation.height * 0.5 - (extents.height * 0.5 + extents.y_bearing);
+      cairo_move_to(cairo, x, y);
+      cairo_show_text(cairo, text);
+    }
+
+    /* render real page */
+    render_page(priv->zathura->sync.render_thread, priv->page);
+  }
+  cairo_destroy(cairo);
+
+  g_static_mutex_unlock(&(priv->lock));
+  return FALSE;
+}
+
+static void
+zathura_page_view_redraw_canvas(ZathuraPageView* pageview)
+{
+  GtkWidget* widget = GTK_WIDGET(pageview);
+  /* redraw the cairo canvas completely by exposing it */
+  /* GdkRegion* region = gdk_drawable_get_clip_region(widget->window);
+  gdk_window_invalidate_region(widget->window, region, TRUE);
+  gdk_window_process_updates(widget->window, TRUE);
+  gdk_region_destroy(region); */
+  gtk_widget_queue_draw(widget);
+}
+
+void
+zathura_page_view_update_surface(ZathuraPageView* widget, cairo_surface_t* surface)
+{
+  zathura_page_view_private_t* priv = ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW_GET_PRIVATE(widget);
+  g_static_mutex_lock(&(priv->lock));
+  if (priv->surface) {
+    cairo_surface_destroy(priv->surface);
+  }
+  priv->surface = surface;
+  g_static_mutex_unlock(&(priv->lock));
+  /* force a redraw here */
+  zathura_page_view_redraw_canvas(widget);
+}
+
+static void
+zathura_page_view_size_allocate(GtkWidget* widget, GdkRectangle* allocation)
+{
+  GTK_WIDGET_CLASS(zathura_page_view_parent_class)->size_allocate(widget, allocation);
+  zathura_page_view_update_surface(ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW(widget), NULL);
+}
diff --git a/page_view_widget.h b/page_view_widget.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b1316f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/page_view_widget.h
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/* See LICENSE file for license and copyright information */
+
+#ifndef PAGE_VIEW_WIDGET_H
+#define PAGE_VIEW_WIDGET_H
+
+#include <gtk/gtk.h>
+#include "document.h"
+
+typedef struct zathura_page_view_s ZathuraPageView;
+typedef struct zathura_page_view_class_s ZathuraPageViewClass;
+
+struct zathura_page_view_s {
+  GtkDrawingArea parent;
+};
+
+struct zathura_page_view_class_s {
+  GtkDrawingAreaClass parent_class;
+};
+
+#define ZATHURA_TYPE_PAGE_VIEW \
+  (zathura_page_view_get_type ())
+#define ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_CAST ((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_PAGE_VIEW, ZathuraPageView))
+#define ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW_CLASS(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_CHECK_CLASS_CAST ((obj), ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW, ZathuraPageViewClass))
+#define ZATHURA_IS_PAGE_VIEW(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_TYPE ((obj), ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW))
+#define ZATHURA_IS_PAGE_VIEW_WDIGET_CLASS(obj) \
+  (G_TYPE_CHECK_CLASS_TYPE ((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_PAGE_VIEW))
+#define ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW_GET_CLASS \
+  (G_TYPE_INSTANCE_GET_CLASS ((obj), ZATHURA_TYPE_PAGE_VIEW, ZathuraPageViewclass))
+
+GType zathura_page_view_get_type(void);
+GtkWidget* zathura_page_view_new(zathura_page_t* page);
+void zathura_page_view_update_surface(ZathuraPageView* widget, cairo_surface_t* surface);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/render.c b/render.c
index 7bb88f9..9dc926b 100644
--- a/render.c
+++ b/render.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "render.h"
 #include "zathura.h"
 #include "document.h"
+#include "page_view_widget.h"
 
 void* render_job(void* data);
 bool render(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_page_t* page);
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ render_free(render_thread_t* render_thread)
 bool
 render_page(render_thread_t* render_thread, zathura_page_t* page)
 {
-  if (!render_thread || !page || !render_thread->list || page->surface) {
+  if (!render_thread || !page || !render_thread->list) {
     return false;
   }
 
@@ -160,8 +161,8 @@ render(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_page_t* page)
     return false;
   }
 
+  girara_info("rendering: %d", page->number);
   gdk_threads_enter();
-  g_static_mutex_lock(&(page->lock));
 
   /* create cairo surface */
   unsigned int page_width  = 0;
@@ -171,7 +172,6 @@ render(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_page_t* page)
   cairo_surface_t* surface = cairo_image_surface_create(CAIRO_FORMAT_RGB24, page_width, page_height);
 
   if (surface == NULL) {
-    g_static_mutex_unlock(&(page->lock));
     gdk_threads_leave();
     return false;
   }
@@ -180,7 +180,6 @@ render(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_page_t* page)
 
   if (cairo == NULL) {
     cairo_surface_destroy(surface);
-    g_static_mutex_unlock(&(page->lock));
     gdk_threads_leave();
     return false;
   }
@@ -199,7 +198,6 @@ render(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_page_t* page)
   if (zathura_page_render(page, cairo) == false) {
     cairo_destroy(cairo);
     cairo_surface_destroy(surface);
-    g_static_mutex_unlock(&(page->lock));
     gdk_threads_leave();
     return false;
   }
@@ -243,11 +241,9 @@ render(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_page_t* page)
     }
   }
 
-  /* draw to gtk widget */
-  page->surface = surface;
-  gtk_widget_queue_draw(page->drawing_area);
+  /* update the widget */
+  zathura_page_view_update_surface(ZATHURA_PAGE_VIEW(page->drawing_area), surface);
 
-  g_static_mutex_unlock(&(page->lock));
   gdk_threads_leave();
 
   return true;
@@ -263,9 +259,6 @@ render_all(zathura_t* zathura)
   /* unmark all pages */
   for (unsigned int page_id = 0; page_id < zathura->document->number_of_pages; page_id++) {
     zathura_page_t* page = zathura->document->pages[page_id];
-    cairo_surface_destroy(page->surface);
-    page->surface = NULL;
-
     unsigned int page_height = 0, page_width = 0;
     page_calc_height_width(page, &page_height, &page_width, true);
 
@@ -273,89 +266,3 @@ render_all(zathura_t* zathura)
     gtk_widget_queue_resize(page->drawing_area);
   }
 }
-
-gboolean
-page_expose_event(GtkWidget* UNUSED(widget), GdkEventExpose* UNUSED(event),
-    gpointer data)
-{
-  zathura_page_t* page = data;
-  if (page == NULL) {
-    return FALSE;
-  }
-
-  g_static_mutex_lock(&(page->lock));
-
-  cairo_t* cairo = gdk_cairo_create(page->drawing_area->window);
-
-  if (cairo == NULL) {
-    girara_error("Could not retreive cairo object");
-    g_static_mutex_unlock(&(page->lock));
-    return FALSE;
-  }
-
-  unsigned int page_height = 0, page_width = 0;
-  page_calc_height_width(page, &page_height, &page_width, true);
-
-  if (page->surface != NULL) {
-    cairo_save(cairo);
-
-    switch (page->document->rotate) {
-      case 90:
-        cairo_translate(cairo, page_width, 0);
-        break;
-      case 180:
-        cairo_translate(cairo, page_width, page_height);
-        break;
-      case 270:
-        cairo_translate(cairo, 0, page_height);
-        break;
-    }
-
-    if (page->document->rotate != 0) {
-      cairo_rotate(cairo, page->document->rotate * G_PI / 180.0);
-    }
-
-    cairo_set_source_surface(cairo, page->surface, 0, 0);
-    cairo_paint(cairo);
-
-    cairo_restore(cairo);
-  } else {
-    /* set background color */
-    cairo_set_source_rgb(cairo, 255, 255, 255);
-    cairo_rectangle(cairo, 0, 0, page_width, page->height * page->height);
-    cairo_fill(cairo);
-
-    bool render_loading = true;
-    if (page->document != NULL && page->document->zathura != NULL &&
-        page->document->zathura->ui.session != NULL) {
-      girara_setting_get(page->document->zathura->ui.session, "render-loading", &render_loading);
-    }
-
-    /* write text */
-    if (render_loading == true) {
-      cairo_set_source_rgb(cairo, 0, 0, 0);
-      const char* text = "Loading...";
-      cairo_select_font_face(cairo, "Sans", CAIRO_FONT_SLANT_NORMAL, CAIRO_FONT_WEIGHT_NORMAL);
-      cairo_set_font_size(cairo, 16.0);
-      cairo_text_extents_t extents;
-      cairo_text_extents(cairo, text, &extents);
-      double x = page_width * 0.5 - (extents.width * 0.5 + extents.x_bearing);
-      double y = page_height * 0.5 - (extents.height * 0.5 + extents.y_bearing);
-      cairo_move_to(cairo, x, y);
-      cairo_show_text(cairo, text);
-    }
-
-    /* render real page */
-    render_page(page->document->zathura->sync.render_thread, page);
-
-    /* update statusbar */
-  }
-  cairo_destroy(cairo);
-
-  page->document->current_page_number = page->number;
-  statusbar_page_number_update(page->document->zathura);
-
-  g_static_mutex_unlock(&(page->lock));
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
diff --git a/utils.c b/utils.c
index 01406e9..cdd9909 100644
--- a/utils.c
+++ b/utils.c
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ page_calculate_offset(zathura_page_t* page)
   zathura_document_t* document = page->document;
   zathura_t* zathura           = document->zathura;
 
-  if (gtk_widget_translate_coordinates(page->event_box, zathura->ui.page_view, 0, 0, &(offset->x), &(offset->y)) == false) {
+  if (gtk_widget_translate_coordinates(page->drawing_area, zathura->ui.page_view, 0, 0, &(offset->x), &(offset->y)) == false) {
     free(offset);
     return NULL;
   }
diff --git a/zathura.c b/zathura.c
index f681658..08765cd 100644
--- a/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura.c
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ document_open(zathura_t* zathura, const char* path, const char* password)
   /* create blank pages */
   for (unsigned int page_id = 0; page_id < document->number_of_pages; page_id++) {
     zathura_page_t* page = document->pages[page_id];
-    gtk_widget_realize(page->event_box);
+    gtk_widget_realize(page->drawing_area);
   }
 
   /* bookmarks */
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ page_view_set_mode(zathura_t* zathura, unsigned int pages_per_row)
   {
     int x = i % pages_per_row;
     int y = i / pages_per_row;
-    gtk_table_attach(GTK_TABLE(zathura->ui.page_view), zathura->document->pages[i]->event_box, x, x + 1, y, y + 1, GTK_SHRINK, GTK_SHRINK, 0, 0);
+    gtk_table_attach(GTK_TABLE(zathura->ui.page_view), zathura->document->pages[i]->drawing_area, x, x + 1, y, y + 1, GTK_SHRINK, GTK_SHRINK, 0, 0);
   }
 
   gtk_widget_show_all(zathura->ui.page_view);