Catharina kiest voor de doornenkroon 1603

"Catharina kiest voor de doornenkroon" (Catharina Chooses the Crown of Thorns) is an etching by Cornelis Galle I from 1603, housed in the Rijksmuseum. It depicts the moment when Christ offers the Virgin Mary a crown of thorns, symbolizing her choice to embrace suffering. The print's composition uses contrasting light and dark to highlight the figures, with a strong emphasis on the dramatic gesture of Christ presenting the crown. Galle's skillful rendering of the figures and their expressions creates a powerful and moving scene, emphasizing the spiritual and emotional intensity of the subject. This etching was likely created for a private collection and reflects the religious fervor prevalent in 17th-century Europe.