Jesus Before Pilate 1470

Jean Fouquet painted this panel of “Jesus Before Pilate” sometime in the 15th century, using tempera and gold leaf on parchment. Fouquet was a master of illumination, and this work demonstrates that vividly. Just consider the ultramarine blue, derived from the precious stone lapis lazuli. But this painting doesn't just offer a feast for the eyes. It also asks us to think about labor, and the way it is rendered in visual form. The upper half of the panel depicts a familiar scene from the Gospels, yet the lower portion of this image shows laborers at work, perhaps constructing a scaffold for the impending crucifixion. The emphasis on craftsmanship and materiality encourages viewers to consider the social context of religious narratives. It also collapses the distinction between high art and the labor required to sustain everyday life. Fouquet prompts us to think about the relationship between materials, making, and meaning.