Doornenkroning 1623 - 1672

This is an anonymous engraving of the crowning with thorns, at the Rijksmuseum. It demonstrates the power of institutions to shape artistic production. The print makes meaning through visual codes and cultural references available in the 17th century when it was made. Prints like this one were intended for wide circulation, and were often commissioned for or by religious orders. The image takes place in a detailed architectural setting; a Roman courtyard filled with soldiers torturing Christ. Religious prints like this were meant to reinforce particular doctrines. This print emphasizes suffering and humiliation. The presence of the Roman soldiers indicates the earthly political powers that condemned Christ. The historical association between violence and religious authority has been the subject of debate throughout the development of modernity. As art historians, we make use of available resources in order to better understand how such images have contributed to cultural norms. Art is contingent on social and institutional contexts.