Christus aan het volk getoond (Ecce Homo) 1755 - 1830

Jean-Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine made this print, *Christus aan het volk getoond*, using etching, a printmaking technique that democratizes image production. Norblin’s choice of etching is significant; it allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images, and this speaks volumes about the work's intended audience and purpose. The incisive lines capture a dramatic scene, but it’s the texture that really conveys the mood. The rough, almost chaotic mark-making adds to the sense of unease and turmoil. The process of etching itself, with its reliance on acid to bite into the metal plate, mirrors the corrosive social and political climate of the time. In the act of making the print, Norblin was participating in a larger conversation about power, authority, and the role of the individual within society. When we consider this print, let's appreciate not just the final image, but also the means by which it was brought into being and disseminated, because, in the end, it is a testament to the power of accessible art in shaping public consciousness.