Christus aan het volk getoond (Ecce Homo) 1582 - 1671

This engraving of “Ecce Homo” or “Christ Shown to the People” was made by Heinrich Ulrich around 1600. It depicts the suffering of Jesus and invites the viewer to contemplate the meaning of his sacrifice. The image employs established visual codes for representing religious scenes. The halo, the crown of thorns, and the instruments of torture all point to Christ's identity and ordeal. The Netherlandish context, where Ulrich was active, was deeply divided along religious lines during this time. Images such as these played a crucial role in shaping religious sentiment. They were produced in large numbers, bought and sold in the open market, and displayed in both public and private spaces. Understanding Ulrich’s engraving requires research into the social, political, and religious history of the early modern Netherlands. By consulting historical sources, religious texts, and art historical scholarship, we can gain insights into the image's purpose and meaning within its original context. Religious art was never purely about devotion; it engaged with the institutions of the church and the political structures of its time.