Doornenkroning 1641 - 1703

Pompeo Ghitti made this print, Doornenkroning, sometime in the 17th century. It depicts the episode of the crowning with thorns, a moment of intense suffering for Jesus, rendered here with raw and visceral emotion. Ghitti’s print invites us to consider how images of the body, particularly in moments of duress, can reflect broader cultural anxieties and power dynamics. Jesus, often seen as a figure of humility and sacrifice, is here subjected to physical and psychological torment. He sits passively, half naked, as the men around him thrust thorns into his head. Consider the social and historical implications of depicting such violence. How might viewers at the time have interpreted this scene, given the religious and political tensions of the era? How do representations like these reinforce or challenge existing hierarchies? The print makes us reflect on the enduring legacy of religious iconography and its ability to provoke emotional responses.