The Crowning with Thorns, from "The Passion of Christ" 1597

Hendrick Goltzius created this print, "The Crowning with Thorns," as part of "The Passion of Christ" series. Here, the tormentors place a crown of thorns on Christ’s head, a cruel parody of kingship. Note how the wreath echoes ancient Roman triumphs, where victors were crowned with laurel. But here, the thorns become instruments of pain, a twisted echo of honor. This mockery resonates with earlier depictions of conquered foes, yet it inverts the narrative; the divine is subjected to human cruelty. Consider how the gesture of crowning, once a symbol of reverence, is perverted. It taps into our collective memory, evoking both admiration and profound unease. The image forces us to confront the inversion of power, a disturbing reminder of humanity's capacity for both reverence and barbaric cruelty. This cyclical progression reveals how symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, reflecting the complex interplay of cultural memory and human experience.