Christ crowned with Thorns. The head, seen en face, of the Roman officer standing behind Christ, and the head, in profile turned to the left, of the kneeling soldier 1628 - 1630

Willem Panneels made this red chalk drawing of two heads in the 17th century. Executed during the Baroque era, a time marked by religious and political upheaval, this study speaks to the period's intense focus on human emotion and dramatic storytelling. Panneels, who lived during the Dutch Golden Age, uses the medium of red chalk to bring a vivid immediacy to the figures. One head, seen in profile with a band across the eyes, embodies a sense of contained suffering. The other figure, rendered with softer lines, appears more contemplative, almost ghost-like. This piece reflects the era’s preoccupation with power, faith, and humanity's capacity for both cruelty and compassion. While it captures a moment from a well-known religious narrative, it invites us to meditate on themes that resonate far beyond its historical context.