Ecce Homo 1629 - 1679

This is an anonymous print, Ecce Homo, made with engraving. What immediately strikes us is the stark chiaroscuro effect achieved through dense, linear strokes, lending a dramatic intensity to the scene. The composition is organized around a central figure of Christ, whose suffering is accentuated by the piercing crown of thorns and the binding of his hands. Flanking him are the figures of tormentors rendered with harsh, almost grotesque features, achieved through deeply etched lines. The formal arrangement divides the print into zones of light and shadow, where the treatment of light radiating from Christ's head contrasts with the somber tones enveloping the persecutors, heightening the emotional impact. The use of engraving, with its capacity for precise detail and tonal gradation, serves to emphasize not only the physical but also the psychological dimensions of the depicted narrative. Through this interplay of light, line, and shadow, the print destabilizes any comfortable viewing, inviting a profound contemplation on themes of suffering, justice, and human cruelty.